SCOTLAND

Universal Credit

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects of the introduction of the proposed universal credit in Scotland.

David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are in regular discussion with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on a number of issues, including the introduction of the universal credit in Scotland.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

ParliQuiz

Greg Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the House of Commons Service was of developing the ParliQuiz application for the Apple iPhone; and which company was contracted for this project.

John Thurso: The cost of the ParliQuiz application to the House of Commons was £5,075, which included content and technical development. The technical build was undertaken by an independent developer, Eknath Kadam. The content authoring was undertaken by an independent writer, Mike Greenwood.

WALES

Chinese Trade

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and  (b) UK Trade and Investment on the recent Chinese trade delegation to the UK.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales continues to have ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and other Cabinet colleagues regarding overseas trade both to and from Wales.
	The Secretary of State has also met with the former chief executive of UK Trade and Investment and will be meeting the new Trade Minister in the near future. We remain committed to ensuring that Wales derives the greatest possible benefits both from overseas trade and from inward investment.

Welsh Assembly Government

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in each Department is responsible for liaison with the Welsh Assembly Government.

David Jones: Each Government Minister is responsible for liaising with the Welsh Assembly Government on their specific areas of responsibility.

TRANSPORT

Cycling: Accidents

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists died as a result of road traffic accidents in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2010.

Michael Penning: There were 104 pedal cyclists killed in road accidents in Great Britain in 2009. Data for 2010 will be published in June 2011.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2010,  Official Report, column 1299W, on the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: tolls, what procedure is followed to determine whether to suspend the tolls at the Dartford Crossing; what criteria inform the decision; and who is responsible for the decision.

Michael Penning: The road user charge at the Dartford Crossing can be suspended in both directions, in exceptional emergency circumstances, to facilitate the safe movement of traffic or in the interests of the safety of the public, in accordance with the Transport Act 2000, section 172A.
	The decision to suspend the charge is taken by a senior civil servant within the Highways Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
	The Department for Transport has made it clear that it is willing to consider suspending the charges when congestion is particularly severe, and where the need to collect charges is contributing to that congestion and we will be issuing guidance in the near future.

Departmental NDPBs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average salary was of people on fixed-term contracts in each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department in April 2010 and each subsequent month.

Norman Baker: holding answer 16 December  2010
	The average annual salary of people on fixed-term contracts in each of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department for Transport in April 2010 and each subsequent month was:
	
		
			  Average salary of people on fixed-term contracts 
			   Renewable Fuels Agency  British Transport Police Authority  Directly Operated Railways Ltd  Northern Lighthouse Board  Passenger Focus  Trinity Lighthouse 
			  2010   
			 April 69,500 18,000 8,000 25,900 32,100 15,700 
			 May 69,500 18,000 8,000 25,900 33,300 17,300 
			 June 69,500 18,000 8,000 25,900 31,800 18,500 
			 July 69,500 18,000 5,600 25,900 30,800 18,400 
			 August 69,500 18,000 8,300 28,700 29,700 19,600 
			 September 69,500 18,000 7,300 28,700 28,800 18,000 
			 October 69,500 18,000 7,000 0,000 28,200 20,100 
			 November 69,500 18,000 7,300 0,000 27,600 18,400 
		
	
	There were no staff employed on fixed-term contracts by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, Traffic Commissioners and Deputy Traffic Commissioners in this period.

Departmental Procurement

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have taken to comply with the guidance of the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement issued in 2009.

Norman Baker: The primary purpose of Government procurement is to buy goods and services the Government need, at the best combination of quality and whole-life costs to obtain the best value for money. This, of course, with due regard to environmental considerations in support of which Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently published the Action Plan for driving Sustainable Operations and Procurement across Government. Government will shortly be publishing revised commitments for waste, water and carbon (including transport and business travel) for the Government estate.
	The Department for Transport supports the promotion of skills and considers it has most opportunity to encourage the use of apprenticeships through the construction work contracted by the Highways Agency.
	At the start of 2010 the Highway Agency (HA) Board agreed to a target to deliver 100 new apprenticeships through procurement activity by the end of 2012.
	From information gathered from 45 key suppliers in September 2010 HA identified 42 apprenticeships had started working on HA contracts since 1 January 2010.
	Highway Agency also took the opportunity to promote the "Skills Pledge" administered by the Skills Funding Agency. To date 49% of their 45 key suppliers have signed up to the Skills Pledge to invest in the skills and training of their workforce.
	Highway Agency has also begun incorporating elements relating to skills and apprenticeships into various stages of the procurement process.

Heathrow Airport: Snow and Ice

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on mobilising resources to permit the maximum functioning of Heathrow during the recent severe weather.

Theresa Villiers: Through the course of the recent severe weather conditions, the Secretary of State chaired the Ministerial Winter Resilience Network set up to co-ordinate actions across Government Departments. He also provided the Prime Minister with regular updates on the position on the recent severe weather, with particular reference to the functioning of Heathrow.

Humber Bridge: CCTV

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what purposes CCTV is used on the Humber bridge.

Norman Baker: Installation and monitoring of CCTV is the responsibility of the Humber Bridge Board. The Board have informed the Department that CCTV at the Humber bridge is primarily employed to allow remote monitoring of the Board's property and infrastructure which would otherwise be impractical.
	The equipment is located to allow visual confirmation of conditions throughout the site occupied by the Humber Bridge Board although the Board recognises that this will, unavoidably, sometimes include surrounding land which cannot be practically excluded from the field of view of the CCTV equipment.
	The images collected will allow observations to be made in respect of ensuring the Bridge Board operates a safe and secure environment for both staff and visiting members of the general public and is able to identify and respond to issues arising that could affect this environment. These issues may include:
	Traffic Management and traffic conditions generally
	Security in areas unauthorised for general access
	Casual observation of vehicles and persons entering Bridge
	Board property to enable early identification of behaviour likely to compromise the safe and secure environment
	The observation of vehicles or persons whose behaviour causes concern
	Specific observation of vehicles or persons involved in an incident, dispute or collision on Board property.

Humber Bridge: Snow and Ice

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for clearing snow from the highway over the Humber Bridge during bad weather; for what reason both lanes in each direction were not cleared of snow on 28 November 2010; whether consideration was given to not charging the full toll to motorists using the bridge in this state; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: Snow clearance and toll reductions during extreme weather are a matter for the Humber Bridge Board. The Board has informed me that the extreme weather conditions on 28 November, made it impractical to ensure the road surface of the Humber Bridge was entirely free of snow. The bridge was, however, passable throughout this period although local police forces imposed their own restrictions on some roads giving access to the bridge.

Humber Bridge: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who decides  (a) when temporary speed limits are to be imposed on the Humber Bridge crossing and  (b) what such speed limits should be; whether a review mechanism of such decisions is in place to ensure that a low speed limit is not unnecessarily imposed; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Humber Bridge Board has responsibility for any temporary speed limits and the limit at which they are set. Temporary speed limits are imposed by the Board on the Humber Bridge to ensure the safety of users of the bridge in adverse conditions including bad weather and work requiring traffic management. The Board has in place detailed written procedures formulated with consideration of national precedents and historical experience at the bridge, which allows the speed limits to be set at an appropriate level. These restrictions are reviewed in real time and modified or removed as appropriate.

Motorways: Speed Limits

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the M18 motorway to be clear of roadworks and temporary speed restrictions in both directions.

Michael Penning: There are currently four schemes being undertaken on the M18 between junctions 2 and 5 which are due to be completed by the end of March 2011.
	This work includes three schemes to replace steel central reserve barriers, which are approaching the end of their design life, with new concrete central reserve barrier:
	Junction 4 North (Waterton Bridge): commenced 20 December for 13 weeks.
	Junction 3 North: commenced 18 October for 16 weeks.
	Junction 2 to 3: commenced 20 December for 10 weeks.
	In addition to the safety barrier works, work has also commenced at the A1 (M)/M18 Wadworth Interchange (M18 Junction 2) to install traffic signals. This is also due to be completed by the end of March 2011.

Railway Network: Subsidence

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding Network Rail has allocated to the prevention of land slips near railway lines in each of the last five years.

Theresa Villiers: This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's acting chief executive at the following address for a response to her question:
	Peter Henderson
	Acting Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG.

Sea Rescue

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 133-4WS, on coastguard services (modernisation) what the lower cost is that he estimates will be achieved by implementing his proposals.

Michael Penning: The consultation document 'Protecting our Seas and Shores in the 21st Century' (pages 38-39) states that the proposals would reduce both long-term running costs and capital expenditure and generate a total saving, in net present value terms, of some £120 million over 25 years.
	Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's website at:
	www.mcga.gov.uk

Sea Rescue

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 133-4WS, on coastguard services (modernisation), what the membership is of the team which brought forward the modernisation proposals; and what experience each such member had in the coastguard and rescue service.

Michael Penning: The Coastguard Modernisation programme team within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has pulled together a wide range of skills and experience covering Operational Coastguard, Human Resources, Finance, Communications and Programme/Project Management. Operational Coastguard experience has been drawn from headquarters officers who have performed a wide range of operational roles during their careers, and current serving coastal safety managers, watch officers and watch managers.
	The proposals set out in the consultation document represent the collective, corporate position of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and its chief executive, Sir Alan Massey.

Southeastern: Franchises

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  by what date he expects to take a decision on the extension of the Southeastern rail franchise by a further two years as provided for under the Integrated Kent Franchise;
	(2)  whether he plans to undertake a public consultation before deciding whether to extend the Southeastern rail franchise by a further two years.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 17 January 2011
	The Southeastern Continuation Review period under the Integrated Kent franchise agreement ended on 12 December 2010. The Department for Transport is currently reviewing Southeastern's performance against the review criteria and the Secretary of State expects to notify the operator of the outcome in due course.
	The Secretary of State will not be undertaking a public consultation. The terms of the franchise agreed by the previous Administration require the Secretary of State to offer an additional two years to Southeastern, at the price agreed in 2005, if it passes the Continuation Review.

Southeastern: Franchises

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the Integrated Kent Franchise; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The franchise contract agreed with Southeastern by the previous administration includes a Continuation Review. The terms of the franchise provide that if the targets contained in the Continuation Review are met by Southeastern, the Department for Transport is obliged to offer the train operator a two year extension of its franchise to cover the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2014.
	The Continuation Review period ended on 12 December 2010. Department for Transport officials are currently assessing Southeastern's performance against the review criteria and an announcement on the outcome will be made in due course.

Train Operating Companies: Weather

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sanctions are open to him to use against  (a) train operating companies and  (b) Network Rail in the event that he determines that they failed to fulfil their contractual obligations during the winter weather of November and December 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The provisions contained in train operators' franchise agreements specify the sanctions available in the event that the operator fails to fulfil its contractual requirements. All new rail franchises incorporate performance requirements-including punctuality and cancellations-which are monitored by the Department for Transport.
	Franchise agreements set out a staged process to be followed in the event that train operators fail to comply with their contractual obligations. This may include a fine, and/or requiring the operator to produce remedial plan setting out measures to restore performance and targets for improvement.
	The Office of Rail Regulation monitors Network Rail's operational activities. If it considers that Network Rail is falling short of its Network Licence obligations, it may take enforcement action against Network Rail. This involves issuing an Enforcement Order, the provision for which is set out in the Railways Act 1993, which sets out the steps Network Rail must take in order to comply with its licence obligations, the timescales for achieving compliance, and any financial penalty that it is felt appropriate to impose.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support his Department plans to provide to the hybrid motor vehicle industry in each of the next four financial years.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	To meet UK carbon targets, the road transport sector needs to be decarbonised and a key element will be the move to ultra-low carbon vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid. The spending review announced provision of in excess of £400 million over the lifetime of this Parliament to support the decarbonisation of road transport. This support will include:
	A commitment to a national recharging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, informed by the eight Plugged-In Places (PIP) pilot projects which will deliver approximately 8,000 charging points, between 2010-13;
	The Plug-In Car Grant (PICG) which was successfully launched on 1 January 2011. The PICG promotes consumer uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles by providing 25% of the cost of the car up to a cap of £5,000 to both private and business purchasers of eligible cars (which include the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid);
	The Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) core budget for the upcoming spending review period has yet to be allocated and until such a time it will not be possible for the TSB to specify the level of funding that it is likely to allocate towards the development of Low Carbon Vehicle technology. The TSB has been working in close partnership with this Department, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support Low Carbon Vehicle Research and Development (R and D) under a range of themes-including hybrid vehicle technology-prioritised by an industry-led steering group and informed by the New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team Technology Roadmap and Automotive Council findings. Funding is not, however, pre-allocated to specific themes, is subject to a competitive process and success will depend on the quality of the proposals submitted.
	The projected R and D spend over the period 1 April 2011-31 March 2015 by the EPSRC in support of the hybrid motor vehicle industry is shown in the following table (based on current grants only).
	
		
			  Financial year  EPSRC spend on hybrid motor vehicle research (£) 
			 2011-12 8,115,823.84 
			 2012-13 4,065,194.30 
			 2013-14 2,369,970.74 
			 2014-15 1,312,166.87 
			 Total 15,863,155.75 
		
	
	The DfT funded Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement programme has provided 200 all-electric and hybrid vans into public sector fleets. The value of this has been £6 million in the financial year 2010-11, and will be £1 million in 2011-12.
	DfT pays a bus subsidy incentive, at a rate of 6 pence per kilometre, to bus operators in England who use low carbon buses (including hybrid buses) on their local bus network.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Employment

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the arts sector in each local authority area in the South West; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Department does not hold this information. However, Arts Council England has provided figures relating to the number of arts sector staff, in each employment category, in their Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs). The 2009-10 figures for the south-west are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Local authority  Permanent full-time  Permanent part-time  Contractual 
			 Bath 13 15 50 
			 Bournemouth West 6 7 40 
			 Bristol East 4 4 78 
			 Bristol South 6 2 46 
			 Bristol West 141 166 490 
			 Cheltenham 54 88 98 
			 Cotswold 7 32 85 
			 Exeter 16 22 165 
			 Falmouth and Camborne 5 13 33 
			 Forest of Dean 0 4 17 
			 Gloucester 6 29 99 
			 Kingswood 6 15 17 
			 North Devon 24 14 61 
			 North Dorset 4 14 87 
			 North Wiltshire 1 1 0 
			 Plymouth, Devonport 0 2 0 
			 Plymouth, Sutton 99 73 283 
			 Poole 101 32 403 
			 Salisbury 44 30 170 
			 Somerton and Frome 5 10 53 
			 South Swindon 9 7 131 
			 St. Ives 8 9 37 
			 Stroud 4 9 29 
			 Taunton 1 2 29 
			 Teignbridge 9 24 0 
			 Tewkesbury 7 21 42 
			 Tiverton and Honiton 2 1 0 
			 Torridge and West Devon 9 12 35 
			 Totnes 16 33 274 
			 Truro and St. Austell 44 79 255 
			 West Dorset 4 18 91 
			 Westbury 5 5 19 
			 Woodspring 3 1 0 
			 Yeovil 6 11 22 
			 Grand total 669 805 3,239

Broadband

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many  (a) homes and  (b) businesses he expects to have access to superfast broadband by 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK is assessing the current broadband provision at community level in its work on delivering the coalition Government's superfast broadband and universal broadband access commitments.

Broadband

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the number of households with access to high-speed broadband in rural communities in England over each of the next five years.

Edward Vaizey: I have made no specific assessment of the numbers of households in rural areas that will have access to superfast broadband. It is the Government's aim that rural and remote areas should benefit from greater availability of superfast broadband access, as do more densely populated areas, in support of the goal of the UK having the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.

Football

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress he has made on his proposals for the future of football governance; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: I am continuing my discussions with the football authorities on further governance reform and a greater involvement for supporters at their local clubs, with a view to setting out a way forward in these areas by May as agreed in the Department's recent business plan.
	Furthermore, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will also be conducting its own inquiry on these issues over the next few months.
	We look forward to following the Committee's Inquiry and responding to their recommendations.

Football Foundation

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for future funding of the Football Foundation.

Hugh Robertson: Through Sport England, the Government will be investing £47 million into the Football Foundation for the period 2009 to 2013.
	Along with the Football Association and the Premier League we remain key funding partners to the Foundation, which continues to help deliver new and improved community sports facilities in many towns and counties across the country.

Television: Licensing

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many times TV Licensing has written to an individual threatening  (a) court action and  (b) a fine for not buying a television licence where it has subsequently been revealed that the person in question (i) had already paid for a licence and (ii) did not have a television at the time in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many formal complaints the BBC has received about TV Licensing writing to people threatening  (a) court action and  (b) a fine where it has subsequently been revealed that the person in question (i) had already paid for a licence and (ii) did not have a television at the time in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The BBC is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system. It is independent of Government. I have therefore asked the BBC television licensing team to consider the question raised by the hon. Member for Dewsbury and to write to him direct.
	A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of both Houses

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Crime

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to police forces of  (a) alcohol and  (b) drug-related crimes in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: Following the review by Sir David Normington of data burdens placed by the Government on the police service, police cost estimates by crime type based on activity based costing (ABC) data are no longer collected centrally by the Home Office. 2007-08 is therefore the latest year for which these data are available.
	Some incidences of acquisitive and violent crime are likely to be related to alcohol or drugs. However, ABC did not record whether violent and acquisitive offences were drug or alcohol-related. Spend on violent and acquisitive crimes is therefore presented here with no further break down.
	Based on ABC, estimates of the cost to the police of dealing with acquisitive crime, violent crime and drug offences in 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Drug offences 338 
			 Violent crimes 913 
			 Acquisitive crimes 1,268 
		
	
	These estimates include business support costs such as personnel and finance activities. Excluding business support costs results in the following estimates:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Drug offences 266 
			 Violent crimes 727 
			 Acquisitive crimes 1,007 
		
	
	Crime prevention activity is excluded from these figures. Drug offences are only those directly related to the sale and possession of drugs. Violent crime includes more serious and less serious violence. Acquisitive crime includes burglary from a dwelling, burglary from commercial or other premises, robbery, theft of or from a motor vehicle, and other theft. Figures exclude data from Essex, Suffolk, Staffordshire and Thames Valley police forces, which are not available.

Asylum: Children

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained between the date of final determination of a family asylum claim and the date of deportation in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Damian Green: The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Crossbows

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to regulate the sale and use of crossbows.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 17 January 2011
	The Crossbows Act 1987 made it an offence to sell or hire a crossbow to a person under the age of 17 and for a person under the age of 17 to purchase or possess a crossbow. Section 44 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 changed this to a person under the age of 18.

Darlington

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has made an assessment of the effects on the local economy of closing her Department's offices in Darlington; and if she will publish a cost-benefit review of closure.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not have plans to close any of its offices in Darlington. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), which is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office, is located in Darlington.
	The Vetting and Barring Scheme review, which is under way, will consider the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. There are no plans to close the ISA's offices and therefore a cost benefit review has not been commissioned or published.

Deportation: Human Rights

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportations from the UK did not proceed as a consequence of the application of the provisions of  (a) Article 3 and  (b) Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in each year since 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: In responding to this question, we have assumed 'deportations' to mean 'removals'.
	The UK Border Agency does not record this information centrally. Providing a breakdown of specific reasons for removals not to be pursued, either at initial decision stage or following a successful appeal, can only be determined by investigating individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers have been prosecuted for employing non-EU students in breach of the conditions of their visa each year since 2001.

Damian Green: The information is not recorded centrally, to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Details of employers prosecuted under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 and section 21 of the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2008 (employing illegal workers) are recorded on the National Operations Database (NOD). However, we only record the details of the offence against the employer and do not record how many of the illegal workers encountered or arrested were specifically non-EU students working in breach.
	Details of the UK Border Agency prosecution cases for England and Wales are published by offence in the Control of Immigration Statistics which is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb1510.pdf
	and a copy is available in the House Library.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the colleges on the sponsors list of the UK Border Agency were inspected prior to a licence being issued in the latest period for which figures are available.

Damian Green: Of the educational institutions on the register of sponsors on 12 January 2011, 54% received a pre-licence visit by the UK Border Agency. The remaining 46% received a post-licence visit. Since May 2009 all educational institutions applying to become a sponsor receive a pre-licence visit.

Immigration Controls

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact assessment her Department has undertaken on the effect on scientists and researchers who will be transferred from Tier 1 to Tier 2 under the Government's proposed changes to the points-based immigration system.

Damian Green: The Government will give a degree of priority within the revised Tier 2 for high-level scientists and researchers.
	We will also introduce a new Tier 1 route for people of exceptional talent, such as world-leading scientists and academics who have achieved international recognition or are likely to do so.
	Details of the new arrangements will be published in due course.

Immigration Controls

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has undertaken on the effect of the points-based immigration system on low-earning but highly-qualified scientists and researchers.

Damian Green: Over last summer we carried out a full public consultation on our proposed changes to the points-based system, to ensure that we took a wide range of views and evidence on board and into account. Details of the new Tier 1 route for people of exceptional talent will be published in due course.

Immigration Controls

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to change the number of points allocated for  (a) incomes and  (b) qualifications under Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system.

Damian Green: We will publish full details of how the revised Tier 2 will operate in future in due course.

National Policing Improvement Agency: Fees and Charges

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has assessed the merits of charging police forces for activities that are carried out by the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Theresa May: holding answer 20 December 2010
	The National Policing Improvement Agency already charges police forces for some of its activities.

Neighbourhood Policing Fund

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department allocated to the Neighbourhood Policing Fund in 2009-10 and each year of the comprehensive spending review period using 2010-11 prices.

Theresa May: holding answer 20 December 2010
	The following table applies gross domestic product deflators to the Neighbourhood Policing Funding grants for 2009-10 and each year of the last comprehensive spending review period.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Neighbourhood Policing Fund 324 332 341 
			 Gross Domestic Product deflators 98.4 100.0 103.1 
			 Neighbourhood Policing Fund in 2010-11 prices 339 343 341

Passports

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many free passports were issued to British citizens born before 2 September 1929 between March 2009 and March 2010; and whether her Department plans to extend the duration of the current scheme.

Damian Green: holding answer 10 January 2011
	Between March 2009 and March 2010, 71,311 applicants born before 2 September 1929 were issued with a British passport free of charge. This is a special concession for the Second World War generation in recognition of their contribution to the national effort during the war years. The current concession is not subject to an expiry date and there are no plans to limit its duration.

Passports: Lost Property

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims were made to the UK Border Agency for loss of passports and other identity documents in each of the last three years; how many payments against such claims were made; and what the combined monetary value was of such payments.

Damian Green: Information relating to the number of compensation claims made to the UK Border Agency for loss of identity documents is not centrally recorded. Information for each of the last three years in relation to how many claims were made and the combined monetary value of payments is therefore not available.

Police: Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of installing automatic number plate recognition cameras in each police patrol car in each police force.

James Brokenshire: The use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, including the number of police vehicles in which it is installed and the degree of investment in it, is an operational matter for individual police forces. This information is not centrally collated and no estimate has been made of the cost of installing ANPR in all police patrol vehicles.

Police: Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of supplying hand-held automatic number plate recognition devices to police forces and other appropriate agencies.

James Brokenshire: The acquisition and use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, including any hand held devices, is an operational matter for individual police forces or other relevant agencies. The information necessary to provide an estimate of the costs of supplying such devices could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department has allocated to each police force under the Forensic DNA Grant.

James Brokenshire: The Forensic DNA Grant has not existed as a specific grant since 2006-07 when it was amalgamated into Rule 2 grant. The amalgamated grant was assigned to each police authority with allocation based on actual provision in 2005-06.
	The allocations for Rule 2 grant in 2006-07 can be found at:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0506/hc08/0845/0845.pdf
	For the provisional Police Grant Settlement for 2011-12, Rule 2 grant has been rolled into Police Main Grant to give police authorities, and thereafter police and crime commissioners, greater freedom and flexibility over their spending decisions.

Police: Roads

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has provided to police authorities on the issue of road closure notices under the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has provided no such guidance.

Sham Marriages

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of individuals who obtained leave to remain as a result of sham weddings organised by Vladymyr Buchak.

Damian Green: Operation Gomozia was a major investigation carried out by the UK Border Agency as a result of suspicions being raised after a high number of immigration applications involving people who had married at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in St Leonards.
	Of the 379 marriages that formed part of this investigation, current information shows that 81 non-European nationals were granted leave to remain. However, the UK Border Agency is still actively investigating all of these cases. Anyone who has gained leave as a result of this scam will have that leave revoked and will face removal from the UK.

Theft: Churches

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many thefts of building material from faith buildings in  (a) England and  (b) Leeds North West constituency have been recorded in the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
	The recorded crime data collected within the Other Theft Group, as with all offence groups, are based on an aggregate count of offences which are defined by statute. Unless the offence specifies the item(s) stolen, e.g. theft of mail, or theft of pedal cycle, it would be recorded within the 'Other theft or unauthorised taking' classification. It is not possible to separately identify thefts of building material from this classification. Details on the specific type of building where the offence occurred are also not available from the recorded crime statistics.

PRIME MINISTER

Liu Xiaobo

Denis MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised the issue of the continuing imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo directly and in person with the Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China on 10 January 2010.

David Cameron: In my meeting with Vice-Premier Li, I discussed the full range of UK interests, including human rights. No subjects were off limits.

Office of UK Permanent Representative to EC

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will take steps to enable select committees to hold confirmation hearings before the appointment of each UK Permanent Representative to the EU;
	(2)  if he will consider the merits of appointing to the Cabinet the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU for the purpose of ensuring greater accountability of that representative to Parliament.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply.
	The post of UK Permanent Representative to the EU is being handled as part of a continuing appointments process to fill a number of senior diplomatic posts from within the civil service. Diplomatic service appointments of ambassadorial rank are agreed by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Prime Minister and made by Her Majesty the Queen. An announcement will be made once this process is complete. The Government do not propose to bring forward proposals to enable either the Foreign Affairs Select Committee or the European Scrutiny Committee to have the right to confirm the appointment of a new UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, or any other diplomatic service appointment. We do propose to continue the practice that political appointees to diplomatic service positions should appear before the Select Committee after their appointments have been made. It would not be appropriate to appoint the UK Permanent Representative to the Cabinet: Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all aspects of the Government's European policy.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Companies: Directors

Helen Grant: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to encourage FTSE 100 companies to include more women on their boards of directors;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the percentage of members of executive boards that are women in UK-registered companies.

Lynne Featherstone: We have made no estimate of the percentage of members of executive boards that are women in UK-registered companies. The Female FTSE Report produced by the Cranfield School of Management provides a regular benchmarking measure of the number of women executive directors in the UK's top companies.
	The 2010 report revealed that only 7.8% of directors of FTSE 250 companies are women(1).
	A further recent and broad estimate of the proportion of women on boards across the UK corporate sector as a whole is approximately 7.8%(2).
	Lord Davies has been appointed to look at how obstacles can be removed to allow more women to make it to the boardroom. Lord Davies is due to report with recommendations for an effective business led strategy shortly and we will respond to his recommendations in due course.
	The further measures that we are taking on positive action, on flexible working, and on parental leave will also help address some of the barriers to progression that women face in the workplace.
	(1) Source-Female FTSE Report, December 2010.
	(2 )Source-Women on Boards: A Statistical Review by Country, Region, Sector and Market Index; Governance Metrics International; March 2009.

Women's National Commission

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities which bodies are responsible for the discharge of functions formerly undertaken by the Women's National Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: We announced on 14 October 2010 that the core functions of the Women's National Commission (WNC) will be brought into the Government Equalities Office (GEO). This means that the work traditionally carried out by the WNC-ensuring that women's voices are heard at the centre of Government-will be carried out by the GEO.
	GEO has now embarked upon developing a new approach to enable women and women's organisations to interact more closely and directly with Government. We will be consulting on the new approach early this year; this will include how we engage with former WNC partners and reach a wider range of women and women's organisations.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Specialist Fraud Investigation

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review on specialist fraud investigation services.

Edward Garnier: Over the course of the spending review period the Law Officers' Departments which play a part in tackling fraud-namely the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Fraud Authority-will reduce overall spending by 25% in real terms. This is challenging, but presents an opportunity to rethink processes and organisational arrangements, without undermining frontline casework.
	The Government have also made a commitment, confirmed in the coalition programme, to create a single Economic Crime Agency (ECA) to rationalise the current piecemeal law enforcement landscape. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) and I are actively engaged in this work. The ECA will be developed in parallel with the National Crime Agency, which will take the lead on organised crime.

National Fraud Authority

Nick Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what responsibilities the Law Officers' Departments have for the National Fraud Authority.

Edward Garnier: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray) today.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Attorney-General how many people recognised as trafficked under the national referral mechanism procedure were prosecuted for criminal offences by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years.

Dominic Grieve: The CPS has no records to identify how many people recognised as a trafficked victim under the national referral mechanism have been prosecuted for criminal offences in each of the last three years. The National Referral Mechanism was introduced on 1 April 2009, and up to 31 December 2010, 1,254 referrals have been made for potential victims of trafficking.

Prosecutions: Crime

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were  (a) initiated and  (b) brought to court for (i) perverting the course of justice, (ii) perjury and (iii) wasting police time following the withdrawal of a complaint of rape or domestic violence in the (A) last six months for which figures are available and (B) previous six months.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) data systems record offences charged and reaching a first hearing in a magistrates court, and includes offences of perverting the course of public justice; perjury; and wasting police time. However, the CPS data systems are not capable of identifying whether such cases were charged following the withdrawal of a complaint of rape or domestic violence or any other offence.
	In December 2010, in order to provide the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with a snapshot of the number of prosecutions of complainants who had made allegations of rape for perverting or attempting to pervert the course of public justice, all CPS areas undertook a trawl of cases. This identified 113 cases in 2010 involving the consideration of prosecuting a person who had made a rape allegation for perverting or attempting to pervert the course of justice. Of those, 61 were prosecuted and convicted; seven were unsuccessful prosecutions (which includes the case being discontinued by the prosecution or acquitted by a jury); and 45 were recorded as 'other' which included cases that were awaiting trial and cases that were not yet charged.

JUSTICE

Approved Premises: Community Orders

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much funding his Department allocated to each probation trust for the administration, running and management of approved premises for offenders serving community orders in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average cost was of a place in an approved premises for an offender serving a community order in 2009-10.

Crispin Blunt: Approved premises accept prisoners released on licence, offenders on community sentences and bailees. These are not differentiated in funding terms, so it is not possible to give specific figures for residents serving community sentences.
	The funding allocated to each Probation Trust in 2010-11 for the running of approved premises is set out in the following table. In addition to those run by Probation Trusts, 11 approved premises are operated by independent third-sector organisations, and these are shown in the table.
	The grant for approved premises in 2009-10 equated to an average £26,600 per bed space. More than one resident will occupy a single bed space in approved premises over the course of a year, with an average stay per resident of 74.7 days in March 2010 and 70.8 days in November 2010.
	Approved premises provide for enhanced supervision, particularly of high risk of harm offenders on release from custody. It would be much more difficult to provide that level of supervision, were such offenders to be dispersed into less suitable accommodation in the community on release from custody.
	
		
			   Allocation (£) 
			  Probation trust  
			 Avon and Somerset 1,516,000 
			 Bedfordshire 1,119,000 
			 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 604,000 
			 Cheshire 1,088,000 
			 Cumbria 545,000 
			 Derbyshire 569,000 
			 Devon and Cornwall 995,000 
			 Dorset 1,023,000 
			 Durham Tees Valley 1,024,000 
			 Essex 557,000 
			 Gloucestershire 487,000 
			 Greater Manchester 3,983,000 
			 Hampshire 1,596,000 
			 Humberside 1,032,000 
			 Kent 579,000 
			 Lancashire 1,070,000 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 1,052,000 
			 Lincolnshire 502,000 
			 London 5,731,000 
			 Merseyside 1,577,000 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 1,580,000 
			 Northamptonshire 535,000 
			 Northumbria 1,037,000 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,470,000 
			 South Yorkshire 1,671,000 
			 Staffordshire West Midlands 5,152,000 
			 Surrey and Sussex 980,000 
			 Thames Valley 2,678,000 
			 Wales 2,183,000 
			 Warwickshire 1,007,000 
			 West Mercia 496,000 
			 West Yorkshire 2,461,000 
			 York and North Yorkshire 540,000 
			   
			  Independent operators 6,795,000

Burglary: Sentencing

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2011,  Official Report, column 263W, on burglary offences: custodial sentences, what proportion of custodial sentences for burglary offences were suspended sentences in 2009.

Crispin Blunt: There were 22,758 offenders sentenced for burglary in 2009 of which 44% were given an immediate custody and 10% were given a suspended sentence.
	This information can be found in Sentencing Statistics 2009, supplementary tables la available at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	Please note that court proceedings data for 2010 are planned to be published in the spring.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of his Department's legal aid budget was allocated to  (a) solicitors,  (b) Citizens Advice Bureau and  (c) other organisations providing legal advice in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: During 2009-10, the last financial year for which figures are available, £2.1 billion was spent on legal aid. Of this, £295 million was spent on legal help, which is the level of service under which legal advice is provided in civil matters. The following table shows the proportion of legal help spent on solicitor firms, the CAB and other organisations.
	
		
			  Type of legal aid provider  Total legal help spend (£ million)  Proportion of legal help budget (percentage) 
			 Solicitors 178.6 60 
			 Citizens Advice Bureau 25.9 9 
			 Other 90.8 31 
			 Total 295.3 100 
		
	
	The figures for solicitors include disbursements, which are paid to solicitors but may then be paid on to other organisations.
	The figures for 'Other' include not-for-profit organisations, Community Legal Advice Centres, and telephone advice.
	All figures are inclusive of VAT.

Community Orders: Reoffenders

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders carrying out unpaid work under community orders were sent back to prison following breaches of the conditions of their order in 2009-10.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Although statistics are collected on the number of unpaid work requirements which fail to complete and on the number of prison receptions for breach of a community order or suspended sentence order, the two data sets are separate and it would require a time-consuming data-matching exercise to combine them and calculate the number of receptions into custody which were specifically related to breach of an order with an unpaid work requirement.
	In 2009-10 23,251 unpaid work requirements attached to community orders and suspended sentence orders were revoked for failure to comply or for conviction of a further offence.
	Data published for the calendar year 2009 show that 3,996 persons were received into prison establishments in England and Wales for breach of a community sentence and 4,361 for breach of a suspended sentence(1).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	(1) Source:
	Table 6.9, Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2009, Ministry of Justice
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm

Courts

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely cost of extending the virtual court system to some or all magistrates courts following the pilot scheme.

Jonathan Djanogly: An assessment has not been made in relation to the cost of extending the virtual court as tests are ongoing to examine how a cost-effective operating model might be developed.

Crime

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice by what date he proposes to end automatic escalation of out-of-court disposals in cases where young people have committed low-level crime.

Crispin Blunt: The Government published the Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle" on 7 December 2010. This consultation document includes proposals to end automatic escalation in youth out of court disposals, and a decision will be made following the close of this consultation. Any change on this policy would require primary legislation.

Custody: Death

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on procedures associated with deaths in custody including  (a) investigations by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman,  (b) inquests and  (c) other follow-up action in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10.

Crispin Blunt: The information in the following table shows the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's average cost of an investigation into a death for each financial year since 2007-08. Also shown is the number of death in prison custody investigations for each financial year since 2007-08.
	
		
			  Data on PPO death investigations 
			   Average cost of a death investigation (£)  Number of death in prison custody investigations 
			 2007-08 17,153 183 
			 2008-09 16,436 164 
			 2009-10 16,239 179 
		
	
	Information about the procedural costs incurred on inquests by local authorities, who are responsible for funding the coroner system, is not held centrally
	The procedural costs for any follow up actions related to deaths in prison custody in each financial year since 2007-08 are unknown and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Custody: Death

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost of legal representation of the Government at inquests into all cases where the state is represented including  (a) deaths in custody,  (b) deaths of military personnel on active service and  (c) hospital deaths in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10; and how much his Department spent on legal aid for families of the deceased in such cases.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry does not have oversight of the provision of legal advice to the Government as a whole and as such the Ministry does not hold information on the cost of legal advice to other departments. The estimated cost of the provision of legal advice and representation of the Government at inquests following the deaths of military personnel on active service and hospital deaths are matters for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Department for Health (DoH) respectively.
	The Ministry does, however, have responsibility for the welfare of prisoners, and, as such, it has obtained legal advice and representation from the Treasury Solicitor's Department and Counsel at inquests following the deaths of prisoners in custody. These costs came to £1.8 million in 2007-08; £2.2 million in 2008-09 and £2.7 million in 2009-10.
	Legal aid funding for inquests is not within scope of the legal aid scheme. Nevertheless, under the Access to Justice Act 1999, the Lord Chancellor has the power to authorise the Legal Services Commission to grant exceptional legal aid funding in cases which are not within the scope of the civil legal aid scheme. The total amount spent on exceptional funding was £1.1 million in 2007-08; £1.5 million in 2008-09 and £1.6 million in 2009-10. While most of the applications for exceptional funding are for inquests, it is not possible to disaggregate the expenditure on inquests from the total amount spent on exceptional funding.

Drug: Offences

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions in the London borough of Bexley for drug-related offences resulted in prison sentences in the last three years for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts and sentenced to immediate custody for drug offences in the Metropolitan police force area, for the years 2007 to 2009 (latest available) are presented in the table.
	Information at borough level is not collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice.
	Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty at all courts and sentenced to immediate custody for drug offences in the Metropolitan police force area, for the years 2007 - 09( 1, 2) 
			  Metropolitan police force area  Found guilty  Immediate custody 
			 2007 10,083 1,687 
			 2008 12,276 1,924 
			 2009 12,694 1,917 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.

HM Prison Ford: Operating Costs

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the operating cost of HM Prison Ford was in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the cost to the public purse per prisoner place at HM Prison Ford was in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the direct establishment expenditure and the corresponding cost per prison place and per prisoner at HMP Ford for each of the last 10 years:
	
		
			  HMP Ford 
			  £ 
			   Direct establishment expenditure  Cost per place  Cost per prisoner 
			 2008-09 8,705,446 15,629 16,254 
			 2007-08 8,317,316 15,346 17,334 
			 2006-07 7,676,459 14,189 17,988 
			 2005-06 7,615,456 14,077 14,905 
			 2004-05 8,155,014 15,074 15,653 
			 2003-04 7,751,286 14,328 15,276 
			 2002-03 7,235,485 13,457 14,549 
			 2001-02 6,151,773 12,279 14,968 
			 2000-01 5,815,820 11,608 16,114 
			 1999-2000 5,957,172 11,891 16,039 
		
	
	The costs comprise the establishment's direct resource expenditure as published in HM Prison Service (HMPS) annual report and accounts, and for 2008-09 with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) annual report and accounts. This is only expenditure met locally at the establishment.
	For 2007-08 and 2008-09 an overall cost per place/prisoner which also includes prison related costs met by NOMS at regional and national level has been calculated as follows:
	
		
			  HMP Ford 
			  £ 
			   Overall expenditure  Overall cost per place  Overall cost per prisoner 
			 2008-09 15,554,845 27,926 29,043 
			 2007-08 12,868,853 23,743 26,819 
		
	
	The overall average cost for 2007-08 and 2008-09 comprises the direct establishment expenditure, (as recorded in the HMPS and NOMS Agency annual report and accounts), increased by an apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in the regions by HMPS and NOMS. This involves some estimation. The figures do not include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government Departments (e.g. Health and Education). Prisoner escort service costs are included.
	Care should be taken in making comparisons over years as there may be changes in scope and accounting treatment that affect comparability.
	Cost per prison place is expressed in terms of the certified normal accommodation number of places, which in this case gives a lower unit cost than the cost per prisoner.

HM Prison Ford: Sentencing

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford were serving a sentence of four years or more on 31 December 2010;
	(2)  how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford were serving sentences for  (a) drug offences and  (b) violent offences on 31 December 2010;
	(3)  how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford were serving sentences of more than four years for  (a) drug offences and  (b) violence on 31 December 2010; and how many such prisoners had more than two years of their sentences remaining;
	(4)  how many prisoners that were transferred to HM Prison Ford had more than  (a) two,  (b) three and  (c) four years of their sentences remaining in the last year for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The following tables provide relevant information on the prison population for HMP Ford as at 31 December 2010 relating to sentence length and offence type.
	However to establish transfer of prisoners to HMP Ford would involve disproportionate cost. Prisoners are not generally allocated to open prisons with more than two years to serve to their expected release date.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Table A: Prison population in HMP Ford, by sentence length, on 31 December 2010 
			   Population 
			 Sentence length of four years or more 222 
			 Indeterminate sentences 67 
			  Notes: 1. The figures exclude those recalled to prison. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.  Source: Further breakdown of the prison population as published in the 31 December 2010 NOMS 'Prison Population and Accommodation Briefing'. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Prison population in HMP Ford, by specific offence group, on 31 December 2010 
			   Population 
			 Drug offences 146 
			 Violence against the person 115 
			  Notes: 1. The figures include recalls and indeterminate sentences. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.  Source: Further breakdown of the prison population as published in the 31 December 2010 NOMS 'Prison Population and Accommodation Briefing'. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Prison population in HMP Ford, by sentence length and specific offence group, on 31 December 2010 
			   Sentence length of four years or more  Those with more than two years to serve 
			 Drug offences 113 2 
			 Violence against the person 32 0 
			  Notes: 1. The figures include immediate custodial sentenced prisoners and those recalled to prison. 2. We provided sentence length of four years or more in order to be consistent with the content of our publication. 3. Prisoners are not generally allocated to open prisons with more than two years to serve to their expected release date. Both of the drugs cases with more than two years to serve have less than three years to serve. 4. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.  Source: Further breakdown of the prison population as published in the 31 December 2010 NOMS 'Prison Population and Accommodation Briefing'.

HM Prison Ford

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what changes there have been to the  (a) certified normal accommodation and  (b) operational capacity at HM Prison Ford in the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The certified normal accommodation (CNA) at HMP Ford was 501 in December 2000, providing an operational capacity of 501 places. At the end of December 2010, the number of places had increased to a certified normal accommodation (CNA) of 557, providing an operational capacity of 557 places.

Offenders: Mental illness

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of offenders with mental health disorders who will require treatment in the community as a result of his proposals to reduce the prison population.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice estimate, that as a result of full implementation of mental health liaison and diversion policies in police stations and courts, annually between 3,000-10,000 people might be diverted away from short prison sentences, instead being suitable for treatment by community mental health services, in the majority of cases in combination with a community sentence.

Offenders: Mental illness

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of offender cases referred to mental health services; and what support he plans to offer to young offenders who are unable to access an appropriate mental health service.

Crispin Blunt: I understand the hon. Member's question to refer to an increase in the number of offender cases referred to mental health services.
	The Government are committed to diverting mentally ill offenders from the criminal justice system where appropriate and increasing access to mental health services. In particular proposals about the NHS making available mental health liaison and diversion services at police stations and courts by 2014, for young and adult offenders, are set out in "Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders" published by the Ministry of Justice in December 2010.
	The cross-Government Mental Health Strategy, due to be launched by the Department of Health on 24 January 2011, aims to improve mental health outcomes for people of all ages, including offenders. It will take a life course approach and prioritise early intervention.

Prisoners

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost per prisoner to his Department is of a category C prisoner in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The average direct establishment cost per prisoner and per prison place in category C establishments is as follows:
	
		
			  Direct public sector establishment expenditure  2008- 09 
			  Category C establishments  £ 
			 Cost per prisoner 22,713 
			 Cost per prison place 23,541 
		
	
	The costs comprise the public sector establishments' direct resource expenditure as published in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) annual report and accounts. This is only expenditure met locally at each establishment.
	The costs represent the total cost per place/prisoner at each prison where the majority use at the end of each year was for category C prisoners. There is no adjustment for prisons holding prisoners of more than one category.
	For 2008-09 an overall cost per place/prisoner which also includes prison related costs met by NOMS at regional and national level has been calculated as follows:
	
		
			  Total overall cost of public and private establishments 2008-09 
			  Category C establishments  £ 
			 Cost per prisoner 36,330 
			 Cost per prison place 37,656 
		
	
	The overall average cost for 2008-09 comprises the expenditure on public and private prisons (as recorded in the NOMS agency annual report and accounts), increased by an apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in the regions by NOMS. This involves some estimation. The figures do not include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by other Government Departments (eg Health and Education). The prisoner escort service costs are included. Expenditure recharged to the Youth Justice Board in respect of young people is included.
	Cost per prison place is expressed in terms of the certified normal accommodation number of places; this gives a higher unit cost than the cost per prisoner.

Prisoners

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoner places have been destroyed or otherwise put out of use as a result of recent disturbances at  (a) HM Prison Ford,  (b) HM Prison Doncaster Moorland and  (c) HM Prison Littlehey.

Crispin Blunt: As a result of the recent concerted indiscipline at the three establishments 61 places were lost at Ford, 265 at Moorland and none at Littlehey.

Prisoners

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been moved away from  (a) HM Prison Ford,  (b) HM Prison Doncaster Moorland and  (c) HM Prison Littlehey as a result of recent disturbances.

Crispin Blunt: As at result of the Ford disturbance 86 prisoners have been transferred out. Following the Moorland disturbances 252 prisoners were transferred out and subsequently 23 prisoners were transferred out as a precaution against further incidents. 10 prisoners were transferred from HMP Littlehey.

Prisoners' Release

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to review the criteria by which parole boards assess risk to the public when considering release of prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Crispin Blunt: We are conducting an assessment of sentencing to ensure that it is effective in deterring crime, protecting the public, punishing offenders and cutting reoffending. On 7 December we published proposals in the Green Paper, "Breaking the Cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders", for public consultation. These proposals included the reform of sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPPs).
	As now, offenders who have completed their minimum term will still have to undergo a risk assessment before being considered for release, and the Parole Board will consider whether each individual case is suitable for release on licence. We are, however, proposing to make amendments to the risk test used by the Parole Board, so that the Parole Board will need to satisfy themselves that the offender presents a risk which cannot be managed in the community. These proposals have been published on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	www.justice.gov.uk

Prisoners' Release: Rehabilitation

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection have taken part in a rehabilitation programme to address offending behaviour before reaching their tariff date.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold a central record of the dates that individual prisoners serving indeterminate sentences of imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) undertook accredited programmes. It is, therefore, not possible to identify the proportion of prisoners who had undertaken a programme prior to tariff expiry.
	NOMS has implemented a range of measures to improve the progression of indeterminate sentence prisoners through the prison system, particularly short tariff prisoners, and an additional £3 million allocation was made in each of the last three years to establishments to support work with this group of prisoners, with a view to ensuring assessments are made on time and to improving access to interventions.

Prisoners' Release: Reoffenders

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011,  Official Report, column 191W, on prisoners' release: reoffenders, what the baseline figure is from which the reduction in reconvictions which will trigger payments to social bond investors is to be measured.

Crispin Blunt: The Social Impact Bond will work with up to 3,000 adult male short-sentenced prisoners discharged from HMP Peterborough, in three cohorts each comprised of approximately 1,000 offenders.
	The baseline will be calculated by an independent assessor, the contract for which is currently being let by the Ministry of Justice. This assessor will calculate the total frequency of reconviction events for the offenders in each Social Impact Bond cohort, during the 12 months following their release. This will be compared with the frequency of conviction events over the same time period for a comparison group of 10,000 offenders released from other prisons, who are identified by the independent assessor as having similar characteristics to the Peterborough offenders.

Prisons: Closures

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reduction in prison capacity will be attributable to the closure of  (a) HM Prison Lancaster Castle,  (b) HM Prison Ashwell and  (c) HM Prison Morton Hall.

Crispin Blunt: The closure of prisons Lancaster Castle and Ashwell and the change of use of Morton Hall to an immigration removal centre, to be operated by the National Offender Management Service on behalf of the UK Border Agency, will reduce our current prison capacity by 849 places:
	
		
			  Establishment  Current operational capacity 
			 Ashwell 214 
			 Lancaster Castle 243 
			 Morton Hall 392

Prisons: Closures

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the projected savings are from the closure of  (a) HM Prison Lancaster Castle,  (b) HM Prison Ashwell and  (c) HM Prison Morton Hall.

Crispin Blunt: On 13 January 2011, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke) announced the closure of Lancaster and Ashwell prisons and the change of use of Morton Hall prison to an immigration removal centre, to be operated by the National Offender Management Service Agency on behalf of the UK Border Agency.
	Until the final outturn costs for site decommissioning, disposal or transfer are known, it is not possible to provide full figures for the savings from the prisons in question. However, in the last financial year, the operating costs for these sites were around £25 million (£10 million at Ashwell, £6.5 million at Lancaster Castle and £8.5 million at Morton Hall) which indicate a potential saving of up to this figure could be made.

Prisons: Finance

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding he has allocated to  (a) prison psychology,  (b) prison probation and  (c) prison education services in 2010-11; and how much such funding he plans to allocate in each of the next four years.

Crispin Blunt: The specific budget for public sector prisons allocated to prison psychology services in the 2010-11 financial year was £85.5 million. However, additional funding would have been included in the budgets for individual programmes and cannot be identified separately.
	The budget for public sector prisons allocated to prison probation for the reimbursement of costs for seconded probation officers in the 2010-11 financial year was £11.4 million.
	Budgets for prison psychology and prison probation for the next four years have yet to be determined.
	Responsibility for the funding of prisoner education in England rests with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). BIS are still working through the detail of the comprehensive spending review and information will be announced as soon as possible.
	In 2010-11, BIS plans to spend £171 million on offender learning in English public sector prisons. This includes spend associated with the employment of heads of learning and skills in prisons, libraries and higher education in public sector prisons in England and a small amount in private sector prisons.
	In addition £2.4 million is allocated for education in public sector prisons in Wales.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) provides both physical resources and staff to support educational activities for prisoners. It is not possible to separately identify these costs which are not held centrally. Education in private prisons is largely run in house and the full costs are not available.
	Training for prisoners is undertaken, mainly by Prison Service staff, while prisoners work or are engaged in various areas such as prison industries, catering, physical education, land based activities, industrial cleaning and laundries. The central costs of the training elements of these, mainly production functions, are not kept centrally.
	NOMS gained co-financing organisation status in January 2009 and successfully bid for a total of £50 million of European social funding to enhance the skills and employment services to offenders in prison and the community. NOMS has been granted the funding over 27 months to increase offenders' employability and improve their access to mainstream support provision. Funding has been extended into a second phase up to 2013.

Prisons: Personnel

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many governors of prisons have left HM Prison Service to take up employment in the private sector since 1 January 2009.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not keep records of employment taken up by former prison governors after they have resigned or retired from the service. We are aware that a small number of senior managers resigned from NOMS in 2010 to take up posts in the private sector, including the governors of Holloway, Whitemoor, Moorland and Isle of Wight. There may have been others who joined private sector providers but there is no requirement for those resigning or retiring to advise the service of their future employment plans.

Prisons: Private Sector

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many jails in England and Wales are run by private sector companies; and what the name is of each such company.

Crispin Blunt: 11 prisons in England and Wales are run by private sector companies. The companies running these prisons are Sodexo Justice Services, G4S and Serco.
	
		
			  Prison  Private sector provider 
			 HMP Altcourse G4S 
			 HMP Ashfield Serco 
			 HMP Bronzefield Sodexo Justice Services 
			 HMP and YOI Doncaster Serco 
			 HMP Dovegate Serco 
			 HMP/YOI Forest Bank Sodexo Justice Services 
			 HMP Lowdham Grange Serco 
			 HMP/YOI Pare G4S 
			 HMP Peterborough Sodexo Justice Services 
			 HMP Rye Hill G4S 
			 HMP Wolds G4S

Probation

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future role of probation services and trusts.

Crispin Blunt: In the Green Paper "Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders", we announced that we would fundamentally reshape probation services to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, empower front-line professionals and make them more accountable.
	We will do this by reforming the way in which probation trusts are managed; reviewing targets and standards to ensure greater flexibility and professional discretion; considering the scope and value of different business models, such as public sector workers forming employee-owned co-operatives; and reforming the National Offender Management Service to reduce costs and enable effective local commissioning in the longer term.

Reparation By Offenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of central commissioning on local community payback schemes.

Crispin Blunt: The specifications for the current Community Payback competition stipulate that a provider will ensure that the local community is able to express their views about the type of work that is undertaken and provide local forums with regular updates about the progress of projects. Liaison must also take place with the local Probation Trust and other relevant local bodies to engage in discussion concerning local requirements for Community Payback projects.

Sexual Offences

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people who were originally convicted of  (a) sexual and  (b) violent offences are resident in approved premises in England and Wales.

Crispin Blunt: The number of  (a) sexual and  (b) violent offenders accommodated in approved premises in England and Wales will vary from time to time. Statistical information about the offending history of offenders residing in approved premises at any one time is not collected centrally, although offenders' assessed level of risk of harm at the point of admission is.
	Approved premises provide for enhanced supervision, particularly of high risk of harm offenders on release from custody. It would be much more difficult to provide that level of supervision, were such offenders to be dispersed into less suitable accommodation in the community on release from custody.

Wills

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the  (a) drafting requirement and  (b) parliamentary time required for the enactment of legislative provisions to regulate will writing.

Jonathan Djanogly: In order for will writing to become regulated, it is likely that primary legislation would be required. In order for will writing to become a reserved activity under the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA), secondary legislation would be required.
	Since the Legal Services Board (LSB) is currently investigating whether or not it would be in the interests of the legal consumer to regulate will writing, it will be more appropriate to await the outcome of that investigation before making an assessment of next steps. Although the activity itself is not regulated, under the LSA authorised persons that provide will writing services, like solicitors, are regulated by their approved regulator.

Young Offender Institutions

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost was of a place in a  (a) young offenders secure unit and  (b) young offender institution in 2009-10.

Crispin Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 865-67W, to the hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald (Mrs Grant) and specifically to the information contained therein on the average annual cost per place in a young offender institution holding 15 to 18-year-olds at 1 April 2009.
	Young people in custody can also be placed in secure training centres and secure children's homes. The following table provides the average annual cost per place in a secure training centre and a secure children's home at 1 April 2009. The information includes the cost to the Youth Justice Board of providing these places and excludes VAT.
	
		
			   Average annual cost per place at  1 April 2009 (nearest £000) 
			 Secure training centre 160,000 
			 Secure children's home 215,000

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Antibiotics

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of antibiotics was administered to  (a) domestic and  (b) farmed animals in relation to the amount administered to the human population in the last 12 months.

James Paice: The most recent data comparing the use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine are from 2007. The report "Overview of Antimicrobial Usage and Bacterial Resistance in Selected Human and Animal Pathogens in the UK: 2007", published in March 2010, shows that in 2007 in the UK:
	335 tonnes of antimicrobial active ingredient were sold for animals reared for food;
	34 tonnes were sold for use in domestic animals; and
	19 tonnes were sold in veterinary medicines authorised for both farmed and domestic animals.
	For human use in the same period:
	73 tonnes were prescribed in hospitals in England and Wales (no data were available for Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2007);
	337 tonnes were prescribed in the community in England, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2007; and
	41 tonnes were prescribed in the community in Scotland between April 2007 and March 2008.

Bees: Pesticides

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to deter the use of chemicals and pesticides harmful to bees.

James Paice: Controls on pesticides work at a number of levels, initially by identifying the hazard potential, then by assessing and managing risk. Under European legislation, pesticide active substances are first evaluated at community level. A key part of this process is an assessment of the risks to bees. If an active substance meets the EU safety requirements then products containing that active substance can be authorised at member state level, taking into account that country's individual agronomic, climatic and dietary requirements.
	In the UK, pesticide products can only be sold or used after they have been authorised. As part of this process, the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) of the Health and Safety Executive (the Government body responsible for regulating pesticides) undertakes an assessment of the toxicity of each product and the ways in which spray operators, the public or environment (in particular honey bees) may be exposed. The purpose being to ensure that the use of the product poses no unacceptable risks.
	The controls extend to the use of products and CRD routinely restricts the way products can be used (e.g. specifying dose rates, timing and place of application) to ensure protection of human health and the environment. Users are also legally obliged to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants. Advice on how this can be done is set out in a statutory "Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products" which, amongst other things, contains guidance on minimising the exposure of bees to pesticides.

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next expects to report on progress towards achieving each of the 2010 targets for priority species and habitats contained in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Richard Benyon: The four administrations of the UK plan to undertake separate, national assessments on the 2010 targets. The timing is a matter for the respective devolved Administrations. In England, the aim is to initiate this work in 2011. The approach and extent of the assessments is expected to vary between each country.

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent assessment is of progress towards achieving the targets contained in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan in respect of  (a) maintenance of the extent of lowland raised bog,  (b) an increase of 3,784 hectares on the extent of lowland heathland,  (c) maintenance of the extent of intertidal sediment saltmarsh and mudflat ecosystems,  (d) re-establishment of 800 hectares of coastal and flood plain grazing marsh of wildlife value from appropriate land sources,  (e) re-establishment of 8,426 hectares of lowland calcareous grassland of wildlife value from arable or improved grassland,  (f) restoration of 26,880 hectares of non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland and  (g) restoration of 1,736 hectares of lowland meadow from semi-improved and neglected grassland by 2010.

Richard Benyon: Progress towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets for 2010 was last assessed in 2008 by the UK Biodiversity Partnership. The assessments for the habitat targets mentioned were as follows:
	 (a) Maintenance of the extent of lowland raised bog: target not achieved. 32,806 ha was reported to have been maintained.
	 (b) An increase of 3,784 ha on the extent of lowland heathland: some progress but target not achieved. 1858 ha was reported to have been created.
	 (c) Maintenance of the extent of intertidal sediment saltmarsh and mudflat ecosystems: 2008 value was not known for the UK, but the England figure was reported as 204,000 ha.
	 (d) Re-establishment of 800 ha of coastal and floodplain grazing marsh: exceeded. An estimated 11,001 ha was reported to have been created.
	 (e) Re-establishment of 8,426 ha of lowland calcareous grassland: some progress but target not achieved. Over 300 ha was reported to have been created in England.
	 (f) Restoration of 26,880 ha of non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites to native woodland: some progress. 5,442 ha was reported to have been restored with a further 4,233 under way in Wales so target not achieved.
	 (g) Restoration of 1,736 ha of lowland meadow: some progress, however the restoration will take many years and no specific figures were reported on the Biodiversity Actions Reporting System (BARS).
	Assessments for all other targets can be found at the Biodiversity Actions Reporting System website.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Compensation

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial compensation is available to farmers who lose cattle from a rare breed of bovine tuberculosis.

James Paice: The Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2006 sets out how compensation is determined for all TB affected cattle. Since February 2006, compensation in England has been determined primarily using table values, which reflect the average open market sale prices of bovine animals in 47 different categories. The categories are based on the animal's age, gender, type (dairy or beef) and status (i.e. pedigree (including rare pedigree breeds) or non-pedigree).

Carbon

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to introduce mandatory carbon reporting for companies by 2012; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 27 October 2010,  Official Report, column 319W.

Common Agricultural Policy

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's objectives are for the forthcoming negotiations on the common agricultural policy.

James Paice: The UK wants to see a competitive, thriving and sustainable EU agriculture and food sector that is able to rise to the challenges and opportunities of the future. We therefore need ambitious reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) to deliver good value for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment.
	Future agriculture policy must have viable, competitive farming at its heart, building a stronger European agricultural sector that is free to farm and able to compete in global markets. With intense pressures on public finances, there should be a substantial cut to the CAP Budget. Future expenditure must be well targeted, delivering measurable outputs that offer real value for money and societal benefits that the market place cannot provide. It should tackle the key objectives of encouraging a competitive, sustainable EU agriculture sector, reducing reliance on subsidies and focusing resources on the provision of environmental public goods. This must be underpinned by further simplification of the CAP and reduction of regulatory burdens.

Common Fisheries Policy

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Richard Benyon: I have had discussions with a range of organisations and people about Common Fisheries Policy reform, including the EU Fisheries Commissioner, MEPs, representatives of the fishing industry, processors, retailers, and non-government organisations.
	I will continue to engage with, and seek contributions from, stakeholders in advance of publication of the EU Commission's proposals for reform in early summer.

Drinking Water: Sales

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on the environment of recent trends in bottled water sales; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not carried out any recent research on this topic. A 2009 report by the Sustainable Development Commission, called "Setting the Table: Advice to Government on Priority elements of Sustainable Diets" included some analysis of a possible guideline about reducing consumption of bottled water (Guideline 10 in the report). This concluded that reliable research and evidence regarding the overall impacts of bottled water was not available. DEFRA recognises the work the industry is doing to achieve high standards of sustainability in what it does.

Environmental and Sustainable Development Policy

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure environmental and sustainable development policy is mainstreamed in the work of other Government Departments.

James Paice: We are considering the recommendations of the recent Environmental Audit Committee report on embedding sustainable development across Government, and will announce details of our approach in the coming weeks.

Fisheries: Quotas

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met her European counterparts to discuss the discarding of fish.

Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I lead on discussions with our European counterparts on the discarding of fish. At the Fisheries Council in December 2010, I negotiated with the European Commission and member states to agree fishing opportunities for 2011. The need to find solutions to the problem of discarding formed an important part of those negotiations.
	There will be further discussions this year with member states and the Commission on the topic of minimising discards, and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2012. The UK will continue to lead the way within the EU on finding practical solutions to the discard issue.

Fisheries: Quotas

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the  (a) weight and  (b) retail value of edible fish discarded by UK fishermen due to their being over-quota in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The total discard estimate in 2009 (the latest period for which figures are available for those fisheries sampled in UK) is 51,179 tonnes. There are many reasons explaining these discards; however, the current system for recording catch and discard data does not allow us to differentiate (year on year) why each fish is discarded. Despite this, CEFAS analysis, conducted in 2010 on the 2008 English and Welsh discard data, estimated that;
	54% (13,230 tonnes) of total discards were discarded for reasons relating to weak/absent markets (i.e. non-quota species).
	Quota constraints were estimated to account for 22% (5,390 tonnes) of discards (i.e. quota species above the legal minimum landing size)
	24% (5,880 tonnes) of total discards were quota species below the legal minimum landing size (MLS) and were too small to land.
	High grading is another type of discarding where fishermen try to optimise the value of their catches by keeping the good value fish and discarding the poorer value ones. This creates a financial profit for fishermen but is still a waste of legally landable fish. A European high grading ban is in place in waters around the UK to prevent this behaviour. The extent of high grading has not been successfully separated from estimates for other types of discarding. Other types of discarding, such as unmarketable species, over quota and under MLS may represent a loss of value to the fishermen and from the fishery.
	Because discard estimates 1997-2010 have not undergone the same analysis as 2008 data, estimates of the financial impacts of discards for the British fleet as a whole are unreliable. To simply use the average market value of all fish species as a multiplier would give an inaccurate estimate of the financial impact of discards.
	We do, however, have a more robust study underway looking at the economic impact of discarding fish.

Food: Labelling

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of food labelling practices in the meat and poultry supply industries.

James Paice: The food industry has always shown itself to be adaptable and flexible to its customers' demands and much progress has already been made in providing more and better information on food labels. However, we recognise that more could be done to ensure origin information is provided on products of interest to consumers, such as fresh meat.
	Discussions in the EU on a new Food Information Regulation are ongoing. The UK supported the extension of compulsory origin labelling to all fresh meat, a review of extending origin labelling for other foods, and a requirement for origin information to be given for main ingredients when origin claims are made. Member states have reached political agreement on the text, which will now be sent to the European Parliament for further consideration. We do not expect the regulation to be adopted and published until early 2012.
	In the meantime, we continue to work with the food industry, retailers and others to encourage better labelling. Voluntary principles on country of origin labelling, developed by industry and facilitated by DEFRA, were launched on 24 November and have been agreed by trade associations representing manufacturers, retailers and the food service sector. All of the major supermarkets have signed up to this approach and many individual businesses already provide excellent origin information. These principles formalise and strengthen the current labelling practices of many businesses. As part of the Structural Form Plan, DEFRA will be carrying out an assessment of current origin labelling practices in the UK during the first half of this year.

National Parks

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what decisions about governance arrangements for National Parks have been made ahead of the closure of the current consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 17 January 2011
	No decisions on the governance arrangement for national parks will be made until after the consultation has closed on 1 February and the responses have been carefully considered.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to publish the results of her Department's research project on beak trimming of hens; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The three year intervention study by Bristol university on strategies to reduce the need for beak trimming is not being funded by DEFRA but the Tubney Trust.

Public Footpaths

Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to review Sections 53 and 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to withdraw the provision to re-classify public paths as byways open to all traffic.

Richard Benyon: Section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was repealed through section 47 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, consequently enacted by commencement order in May 2006. At the same time all roads used as public paths not yet reclassified under section 54 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 became restricted byways, under the Restricted Byways Regulations 2006.
	Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is the legal mechanism for recording all public rights of way and therefore it will not be reviewed.

Public Sector: Food

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase the proportion of publicly-procured  (a) beef,  (b) lamb and  (c) pork which comes from UK sources.

James Paice: One of the Government's priorities is to support and develop British farming and encourage sustainable food production. To achieve this it needs to be seen to lead by example and encourage sustainable food procurement by the Government and the wider public sector. In support of this the Government have made a commitment to source food, subject to no overall increase in costs, meeting British or equivalent standards of production.
	This commitment will be included as part of a set of Government Buying Standards for food, covering sustainability of food and catering operations as well as nutrition, which will be mandatory for central Government Departments and will be promoted to the wider public sector. These Government Buying Standards, currently the subject of an external review ending on 24 January, will be published in March this year.
	We know that some Departments are already buying a high proportion of food that meets British or equivalent standards of production and therefore it should be possible for others to do the same. DEFRA will be working to help all Departments achieve this goal through guidance and learning from best practice. Departments will be asked to report on the extent to which they meet the Government Buying Standards in June 2011.
	Government, procurement has to comply with EU and UK legislation which is intended to prevent 'buy national' policies and encourage free trade and equal access to markets. Any action in contradiction to these principles would run a high risk of legal challenge and would be contrary to the Government's wider public procurement policy.

Rescue Dogs: Quarantine

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider reducing the quarantine time for UK search and rescue dogs used in international humanitarian assistance missions.

James Paice: The UK maintains strict controls on the movement of dogs and cats into the UK. These controls require all dogs, including working dogs, entering the UK from certain countries to be placed in quarantine on their arrival. This is intended to protect us from the incursion of serious diseases like rabies.
	However, we recognise the excellent work carried out by UK search and rescue dogs in response to international emergencies. We also appreciate that ongoing and regular training is critical for these dogs so that they can maintain their response capability, and the burden that quarantine places on these animals.
	Each case would need to be considered on an individual basis, but we would be willing to work with the relevant organisations to explore potential options which prove an acceptable compromise between the needs of these dogs, and our disease control requirements.
	For example, DEFRA worked closely with the Essex Fire Service in 2009 to develop a system which allowed a rescue dog returning from the earthquake in Indonesia to continue her training routine, while maintaining our strict controls protecting the public from the very serious disease of rabies. DEFRA is happy to continue working with search and rescue dog organisations to look at ways to maintain their dogs' readiness to respond to international situations in this manner.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of pump stations which will be transferred to water companies between 1 October 2011 and  (a) 1 October 2012,  (b) 1 October 2013,  (c) 1 October 2014,  (d) 1 October 2015 and  (e) 1 October 2016.

Richard Benyon: Draft regulations for the transfer of private sewers to water and sewerage companies were the subject of consultation between August and November 2010 and provide for the transfer of all eligible pumping stations by 1 October 2016. The precise timing of the transfer of individual pumping stations will be a matter for each company to determine in light of the need for improvement or replacement works. The impact assessment published alongside the consultation paper estimates the total number of pumping stations to be transferred as 22,000.

Sewers: Private Sector

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on flood management of transferring private drains, sewers and pump stations to water companies.

Richard Benyon: The proposed transfer will significantly aid surface water management, which is currently inhibited by disparate ownership of sewerage assets. One of the primary benefits will be better integrated management and maintenance of the transferred assets as part of the public sewerage system. In his report on the 2007 floods, Sir Michael Pitt welcomed the clarification of institutional responsibilities that the proposed transfer will bring as a contribution to reducing surface water flooding. The transfer will apply to private foul and surface water sewers that connect to the public sewerage system.

Sudden Oak Disease

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on the spread of Sudden Oak disease in England; and what steps  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies are taking to curtail the spread of the disease.

James Paice: I discuss such matters regularly with ministerial colleagues, particularly my noble Friend Lord Henley who has responsibility for plant health.
	In 2009, a five-year £25 million programme began in England and Wales, in addition to ongoing work across the UK, to tackle diseases caused by two plant pathogens, the Phytophthora species "P. ramorum" and "P. kemoviae". "P. ramorum" is known as Sudden Oak Death in the USA, although the impact on oak species in the UK has been limited.
	The focus of the programme has been reconsidered since finding "P. ramorum" seriously affecting Japanese larch trees in the south-west of England in August 2009. The programme has been subject to review, in consultation with a range of interested parties, and the outcome of this review should be announced shortly.
	The Forestry Commission has been working closely with the Food and Environment Research Agency to deliver the programme against the diseases and has been carrying out annual surveys of woodland since 2004. Wherever the pathogen's presence is confirmed it requires the removal of all infected plants and trees, and the Forestry Commission takes the same action on the land it manages. Activity has increased significantly since "P. ramorum" was confirmed on Japanese larch, an important component of commercial forestry, and currently some 3,000 hectares of Japanese larch are being cleared mainly in south west England and south Wales in an effort to halt the spread of the disease. Funding totalling £600,000 has been made available from the programme funds to help owners arrange for the felling and marketing of their timber and the clearance of younger non-commercial crops.

Sustainable Development Commission

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many staff of the Sustainable Development Commission will be  (a) transferred to her Department and  (b) released following its abolition;
	(2)  what level of savings she expects to accrue from the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission in each of the next four financial years.

James Paice: holding answer 17 January 2011
	 DEFRA and the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) are currently reviewing evidence as to which SDC staff are eligible to transfer to the Department. This is part of the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector process. Numbers of staff who will transfer or be released from the SDC Whitehall office will be known once this process has been completed.
	DEFRA has contributed approximately £2.5 million a year to the SDC's budget. We are determining the scale of any costs arising from the abolition of the SDC as part of the SDC transition project. This will include the cost of redundancy compensation payments as well as salary costs for any staff that transfer into DEFRA. We anticipate that any costs will be outweighed by the long term savings to DEFRA and to Government.
	There will be some additional savings from the disbanding of the DEFRA team responsible for managing DEFRA's relationship with the SDC.

Work Programme

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect on rural communities of the proposed Work Programme;
	(2)  what assessment she has conducted with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the effects on construction of social housing in rural communities in England over the next five years;
	(3)  what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the level of pensioner poverty in rural communities in England over each of the next five years.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA is the Rural Champion within Government, and its officials engage regularly with those of other Government Departments to highlight rural issues and ensure that rural interests are taken into account in policy making.
	I am currently undertaking a programme of rurally-focused meetings with all Ministers from other policy Departments, which will naturally include Ministers from the Department for Communities and Local Government, which will include discussions on delivery of social and affordable housing, as well as meeting with Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, which will include discussions on the issue of pensioner poverty in rural areas.
	Both are scheduled to take place shortly.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arctic

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the Arctic region; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: Our principal aims in the Arctic are to promote peace and good governance, and increase UK influence in the region by maintaining good bilateral and multilateral relationships with the Arctic States, for example, through supporting the work of the Arctic Council and other international and regional bodies.
	The UK recognises the need to protect the Arctic environment, particularly in light of rapid regional climate change, but also recognises that the Arctic region is crucial to UK energy security and of increasing interest to British business and scientists. The Government therefore works with the Arctic States to promote and support British interests in the region, including in respect of science, energy, fisheries and potential transport routes opened up by the melting sea ice.

Arms Control

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress his Department has made on negotiations on an international arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Securing a robust and effective arms trade treaty remains a priority for the Government. The UK played a full and active role at the start of negotiations on an arms trade treaty (ATT) in New York in July 2010. Good progress was made at the meeting, with constructive engagement by the majority of UN member states.
	The UK regularly discusses the ATT with both supportive states, and those that still have concerns about the treaty. We are also working with non-governmental organisations and the UK defence industry to build support for the ATT, including through the funding of a range of ATT related projects. Negotiations will continue at the next preparatory committee meeting in February 2011.

Arms Control

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the negotiation of an international arms trade treaty that is legally binding on signatories.

Alistair Burt: The UK remains fully committed to negotiating a robust and effective, legally binding arms trade treaty to establish common international standards for the trade in conventional arms.

Arms Control

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to maintain the post of Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control and Disarmament after the end of the current Ambassador's term of office in 2011.

Alistair Burt: Following an internal reorganisation to our multilateral diplomatic posts in Switzerland, the responsibilities currently held by the Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control and Disarmament have been redistributed to ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) resources are best placed to service both Geneva and non-Geneva based work. When the current Ambassador's term ends in 2011, we will retain the post of UK permanent representative to the conference on disarmament in Geneva. However leadership of the UK delegations to the non-proliferation treaty and the arms trade treaty will revert to the relevant heads of department at the FCO in London. This will ensure even greater Whitehall and ministerial co-ordination across the multilateral arms control and disarmament community, including on the arms trade treaty as we approach the critical UN negotiating conference in 2012. I can confirm that multilateral arms control and disarmament continue to be a high priority for the FCO.

British Nationals Abroad: Homicide

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department plans to clarify the ambiguity which exists on the support services offered to British nationals bereaved by murder and manslaughter abroad.

Jeremy Browne: The consular support currently available to British nationals bereaved by murder and manslaughter abroad is set out in our publications 'Support for British nationals abroad: a Guide', and a 'Guide for bereaved families', both available at:
	www.fco.gov.uk
	We are considering with other interested Departments and agencies how we might improve the support provided to bereaved families following a murder or manslaughter abroad.

British Nationals Abroad: Terrorism

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to implement the provisions of the Crime and Security Act 2010 related to compensation for victims of terrorism overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
	Lead responsibility for ensuring provision of support services and compensation to victims of crime rests with the Ministry of Justice.
	Decisions have not yet been taken with regards to the provisions in the Crime and Security Act 2010.

Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions British ambassadorial posts have been recruited through open competition in each of the last two years.

Alistair Burt: There has been no recruitment for ambassadorial posts through external, open competition in the last two years.

India: Entry Clearances

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the ability of British citizens to acquire visas to visit countries in the Indian sub-continent.

Alistair Burt: We cannot go into details on individual cases. However we are aware that British citizens of Pakistani origin applying for an Indian visa have been subject to additional checks by the Indian Government and these have led to delays. We have raised our concerns about this issue with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India, both bilaterally and in conjunction with European Union colleagues.

India: Foreign Relations

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on strengthening the UK's relations with India; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The bilateral relationship with India sits on solid foundations, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear that the UK is committed to making this partnership stronger, wider and deeper, to mutual benefit. This reflects India's increasingly important role in the world and our shared interest in democracy, sustained economic growth, and global security through effective international institutions.
	Since my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's visit to India and the summit with Indian Prime Minister Singh in July 2010 we have set in train an ambitious agenda of practical co-operation. A number of further visits, including by Cabinet Ministers, have taken place in both directions. A significant UK trade delegation is accompanying my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable) on a visit to India this week. In February a forum of chief executive officers from both countries will meet to advise on improving bilateral trade. A new phase in the UK/India Education and Research initiative will further enhance co-operation between educational institutions and provide a platform for the increased ties in science and technology that will help drive economic growth on both sides. Co-operation also continues on defence, counter terrorism and climate change.
	Both sides are committed to deepening the relationship at the non-governmental level and hon. Members may be aware of recent parliamentary exchanges. India's new membership of the UN Security Council also provides an opportunity to engage even more closely on key international issues and it is the Government's intention to do so.

Iran: Prisoners

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on the arrest of Mrs Nasrin Sotoudeh; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: As I said in my statement of 10 January 2011, I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing detention of Nasrin Sotoudeh, and by the 11 year prison sentence which was recently handed down to her. I have raised this case on a number of occasions directly with the Iranian embassy in London and will continue to call on the Iranian authorities to overturn these sentences. I am also deeply concerned by reports that Reza Khandan, Ms Sotoudeh's husband, has now been detained by the authorities. Arrests and harassment of family members as a means to exert pressure are entirely unacceptable. I urge Iran to cease its harassment of human rights defenders and lawyers for doing their jobs and defending those without a voice.

Office of UK Permanent Representative to EC

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  when he expects to commence the process to identify a successor for the present UK Permanent Representative to the EU;
	(2)  who will  (a) sit on and  (b) chair the panel to oversee the appointment procedure of a new Permanent Representative to the EU;
	(3)  if he will bring forward proposals to enable the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to have the right to confirm the appointment of each UK Permanent Representative to the EU;
	(4)  if he will bring forward proposals for the European Scrutiny Committee to have the right to confirm the appointment of each UK Permanent Representative to the EU.

David Lidington: The post of UK Permanent Representative to the EU is being handled as part of a continuing appointments process to fill a number of senior diplomatic posts from within the civil service. Diplomatic service appointments of ambassadorial rank are agreed by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and made by Her Majesty the Queen. An announcement will be made once this process is complete. The Government do not propose to bring forward proposals to enable either the Foreign Affairs Select Committee or the European Scrutiny Committee to have the right to confirm the appointment of a new UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, or any other diplomatic service appointment. We do propose to continue the practice that political appointees to diplomatic service positions should appear before the select committee after their appointments have been made. It would not be appropriate to appoint the UK Permanent Representative to the Cabinet: Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all aspects of the Government's European policy.

Palestinians: Embassies

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration he has given to upgrading the status of the Palestinian delegation in London to that of a full diplomatic mission; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of the steps that some other EU states have taken to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Delegations in their capitals. The Palestinians have made the same request to the UK, which we are considering in accordance with our long standing support for Palestinian state building.
	The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 confer diplomatic privileges and immunities in the UK on accredited diplomats, their families etc. of other states.
	As the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state, the Palestinian Authority in the UK is not entitled to the privileges and immunities provided for in the United Kingdom Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987. These Acts implement the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1964 in UK law, a convention that regulates the diplomatic conduct between states.

Russia: Pipelines

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of the Russian Federation on allegations of corruption in the construction of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.

David Lidington: I have made no specific representations about this pipeline. However UK Ministers regularly discuss the business climate in Russia, including corruption, with our Russian counterparts.

Sri Lanka: Floods

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the east of Sri Lanka following the recent floods; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I have received regular reports from our high commission in Colombo on the effect of the floods on central and eastern Sri Lanka. These indicate that over one million people have been affected by the severe weather and just over 51,000 are displaced as of 17 January 2011. The Sri Lankan Government and the UN are co-ordinating humanitarian relief for the flood victims. I have expressed to the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister our sympathy for those affected by these devastating floods. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow UN assessments of the humanitarian operation.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Support Agency is required to assess income from war disability benefit when calculating payments due in respect of children.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Support Agency is required to assess income from war disability benefit when calculating payments due in respect of children.
	Under the current child maintenance scheme introduced in 2003, the receipt of a war disablement pension is a prescribed benefit for the purposes of the Child Support Act 1991. A non-resident parent in receipt of a prescribed benefit is liable to pay maintenance at the flat rate which is currently £5 per week.
	In old child maintenance scheme, for cases opened between 1993 and 2003, a war disablement pension is included in the calculation of the net weekly income but £10 of their total income is then disregarded. If the revised calculation leads to a liability of £6.50 or less per week, then they are exempt from paying maintenance.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Disability

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has carried out on the effects of measures announced as a result of the June 2010 Budget and the Comprehensive Spending Review on people with disabilities.

Maria Miller: Within the Department for Work and Pensions, all Budget and spending review measures will be equality impact assessed. Where the detail of policies is still being developed we will publish equality impact assessments at the most appropriate time, for example alongside the Welfare Reform Bill.
	Some policies will be subject to consultation and, therefore, the equality impact assessment will be published at a later date, when policies are finalised.
	The equality impacts of Budget changes have been published where detail of the policy has been finalised, and can be found on this Department's website at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/impact%2Dassessments/equality%2Dimpact%2Dassessments/

Housing Benefit

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on people on low incomes of the Government's proposed reforms to housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The Department published a document on 'Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12' on 23 July, which includes analysis at the local authority level. An impact assessment and equality impact assessment were published on 30 November. Copies of the documents have been placed in the Library. We will publish impact assessments for the remaining measures at the time the relevant legislation is introduced.

Social Fund

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the running costs, excluding grants and debts written off, were of the Social Fund in each year from 2004-05 to 2009-10.

Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
	The administration of Social Fund is mainly carried out by Jobcentre Plus. The following table provides data back to 2006-07. This is the earliest time for which data is available for Social Fund activity.
	
		
			  Table 1: Social Fund direct staff administration costs 
			   £ million 
			 2009-10 121.4 
			 2008-09 97.1 
			 2007-08 82.5 
			 2006-07 70.5 
			  Notes: 1. The costs shown represent the direct staff costs within Jobcentre Plus associated with Social Fund activity. The basis for allocating management, support costs and head office costs has changed over this period and it would be disproportionately costly to attempt to include all of these costs on a comparable basis. 2. The costs cover the direct staff administration costs of Budgeting and Crisis Loans including face to face interviews, Community Care Grants, Funeral Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grants, reviews and appeals and exclude Winter Fuel payments. Debt Management activity is carried out by a Shared Service function on behalf of Jobcentre Plus. Activity specific to Social Fund Debt is not separately identified from the wider debt recovery costs. 3. The increase in cost mainly reflects increased volumes of Crisis Loans. 4. In 2009-10 face to face interviews were introduced where an individual made a third or subsequent request for a Crisis Loan within a rolling 12 month period. The aim of these interviews is to: Help ensure that the Fund is not being mis-used. Evidence suggests that on being invited to interview, significant numbers of applicants either terminate the telephone call or fail to attend the appointment. Help sign-post genuine needy customers for independent money advice so that they can receive help with matters such as budgeting.  Source: Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management System

Social Security Benefits

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process notification of changes of circumstance of benefit claimants  (a) resident in Makerfield constituency and  (b) nationally was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus monitor the average time taken to process changes of circumstance via internal measurement indicators using an Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) for each benefit.
	AACT measures the average number of working days we take to process changes of circumstance. The measure starts when the notification is received in Jobcentre Plus and ends when the relevant details have been recorded.
	You have asked for details for claimants resident in Makerfield constituency these are not processed at Makerfield Benefit Delivery Centre (BDC) they are dealt with by Bolton BDC. Makerfield BDC processes claims made in London.
	The following table shows the latest AACT performance for changes of circumstance at both a national level and for those processed in Bolton BDC.
	
		
			  Change of circumstance :  Average Actual Clearance Time 
			  Working days 
			   2010  
			   April  May  June  July  August  September  Octobe r  November  December  Year to date 
			  National   
			 Employment and support allowance 3.4 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.3 
			 Incapacity benefit 4.5 7.1 4.9 3.3 4.2 4.8 3.9 3.5 3.2 4.6 
			 Income support 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 1.9 2.1 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 3.6 3.4 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.5 
			
			  Bolton BDC   
			 Employment and support allowance 2.8 2.6 3.0 2.4 4.3 4.0 3.7 3.2 3.1 3.2 
			 Incapacity benefit 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.4 1.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 
			 Income support 2.9 3.2 3.7 3.4 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.8 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 3.1 3.6 3.4 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.1 4.0 4.4 3.8 
			  Source:  Management Information System Programme (MISP). MISP is the departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice. 
		
	
	In PDCS we have taken your question to mean what is the average number of working days it takes us to process a notification of change of circumstances. The way in which management information is captured means that we are unable to provide what the average time taken to process notification of changes of circumstance of benefit claimants resident in Makerfield constituency. However we are able to provide information nationally in the following table:
	
		
			  Year to date Average Actual Clearance Time, as at December 2010 
			  Business event  Days 
			 Pension credit changes 6.5 
			 Disability living allowance supersessions 39.0 
			 Disability living allowance SofS supersessions 25.0 
			 Disability living allowance maintenance 2.3 
			 Attendance allowance supersessions 24.5 
			 Attendance allowance SofS supersessions 26.2 
			 Attendance allowance maintenance 1.9 
			 Carer's allowance maintenance 8.9 
			  Notes:  1. A supersession is where the customer raises questions about entitlement to DLA/AA e.g. there has been a change of circumstances and they require more help with personal care or getting about.  2. A Secretary of State Supersession (SofS) is undertaken when information is received that raises questions about a customer's entitlement to DLA or AA.  3. Maintenance is where the customer reports a change of personal circumstances such as a change of address or bank account etc.  4. The Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) target measures the average number of days we take to process changes of circumstances. The purpose of the target is to make sure that our customers' changes of circumstances are processed in a reasonable length of time.  5. The AACT is calculated by dividing the total number of days taken to clear cases by the total number of cases cleared.  Example: Total number of working days taken to clear cases is 150; total number of cases cleared is 50. Therefore the average clearance time is 150/50 = 3.   Source:  Department for Work and Pensions-PDCS Management Information Statistics. 
		
	
	Information for the average time taken to process notification of changes of circumstances for state pension changes is not captured however we can tell you that the target is 95% in 15 days and the year to date figure for December 2010 is 94.9%.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have been transferred to an alternative benefit following a medical assessment for the purposes of determining benefit suitability in  (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency,  (b) South Lanarkshire and  (c) Scotland since May 2010;
	(2)  how many people have had benefit withdrawn following a medical assessment for the purposes of determining benefit suitability in  (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency,  (b) South Lanarkshire and  (c) Scotland since May 2010;
	(3)  how many medical assessment decisions have been overturned on appeal in  (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency,  (b) South Lanarkshire and  (c) Scotland since May 2010;
	(4)  how many medical assessments for the purposes of determining benefit suitability have been carried out in  (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency,  (b) South Lanarkshire and  (c) Scotland since May 2010;
	(5)  how many appeals against medical assessments for the purposes of determining benefit suitability have been submitted in  (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency,  (b) South Lanarkshire and  (c) Scotland since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: Since the questions all relate to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the same geographical areas, a single response addressing all the questions is given in the tables.
	Information on the destinations of people found fit for work at WCA is not available. Information on WCAs held and their outcomes is not available at the constituency level.
	Table 1 gives information on all initial WCAs that took place between October 2008 (when ESA was introduced) and June 2010, the latest data available. The data are presented for the South Lanarkshire local authority area and for the Scotland government office region. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, so columns may not sum to the totals shown.
	
		
			  Table 1: All ESA WCAs held and number of fit for work outcomes for South Lanarkshire LA and Scotland GOR 
			   Fit for work  All completed work capability assessments 
			  Month of assessment  South Lanarkshire  Scotland  South Lanarkshire  Scotland 
			 October 2008 - - - - 
			 November 2008 0 10 0 20 
			 December 2008 10 140 20 190 
			 January 2009 40 460 50 590 
			 February 2009 60 780 70 1,020 
			 March 2009 130 1,660 150 2,040 
			 April 2009 130 1,680 170 2,170 
			 May 2009 170 2,160 220 2,810 
			 June 2009 220 2,370 300 3,170 
			 July 2009 230 2,670 290 3,590 
			 August 2009 230 2,770 280 3,690 
			 September 2009 210 2,340 280 3,230 
			 October 2009 180 2,810 220 3,690 
			 November 2009 180 3,000 280 4,090 
			 December 2009 200 1,920 270 2,940 
			 January 2010 170 3,050 210 4,010 
			 February 2010 190 2,900 270 3,890 
			 March 2010 230 3,440 300 4,680 
			 April 2010 180 2,650 240 3,870 
			 May 2010 190 3,170 280 4,520 
			 June 2010 140 3,500 230 4,920 
			 Total 3,070 43,500 4,130 59,100 
			  Source: Benefit claims data held by DWP and functional assessment data sourced from Atos Healthcare 
		
	
	Table 2 gives the number and outcome of all completed appeals against a fit for work decision at initial WCA in the requested areas, for ESA claims starting between October 2008 and August 2009, the latest data available. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 so columns may not sum to the totals shown.
	
		
			  Table 2: Appeals against an ESA Fit for Work decision at WCA for South Lanarkshire and Scotland 
			   Decision in favour of appellant  DWP decision upheld  Total appeals 
			  Month of claim start  South Lanarkshire  Scotland  South Lanarkshire  Scotland  South Lanarkshire  Scotland 
			 October 2008 10 90 10 140 20 230 
			 November 2008 20 380 60 620 80 1,000 
			 December 2008 20 350 50 540 70 890 
			 January 2009 30 490 50 700 80 1,190 
			 February 2009 40 530 60 710 90 1,230 
			 March 2009 40 600 60 770 100 1,370 
			 April 2009 40 550 50 690 90 1,240 
			 May 2009 30 500 50 730 80 1,230 
			 June 2009 50 520 60 680 100 1,200 
			 July 2009 20 400 50 580 70 970 
			 August 2009 30 330 50 500 80 820 
			 Total 320 4,730 540 6,640 860 11,370 
			  Source: Benefit claims data held by DWP, functional assessment data sourced from Atos Healthcare and appeals data sourced from the Tribunals Service 
		
	
	 Background
	The tables presented above are equivalent to tables 3 and 5 in the official statistics report on the WCA last published in October 2010. The latest report can be found on the DWP website at the following link. All WCA data relates to outcomes at initial WCA only, i.e. repeat WCA outcomes are excluded from this analysis. These statistics are regularly updated and present the latest and most reliable data we hold, more information is available in the report.
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/index.php?page=esa_wca_arc
	 Constituency level data
	Information on the home constituency of ESA claims is not recorded.
	 Destinations p ost ESA
	While we do hold some data on destinations of people leaving ESA after a fit for work decision at WCA, this data is incomplete and so not robust. Any conclusions drawn from this data would be at best unreliable and at worst potentially misleading.
	 ESA a ppeals data
	Data on people appealing against a fit for work decision is only available once the appeal has been heard and the result given. Since appeals take around six months to be completed on average, there is a significant delay between an appeal being lodged and the result being given. Data are presented for claims starting by August 2009 since we expect that the large majority of appeals for these cases will have been cleared to date. If we were to provide data on more recent cases it would be unreliable and probably underestimate the true number of appeals.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Youth Groups

Mark Pritchard: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent discussions the Church Commissioners have had with local authorities on Church-sponsored youth groups.

Tony Baldry: The Church of England has a long history of delivering youth work and currently provides activities outside church for over 439,900 children and young people. At a local level, the church has seen extensive growth in the number of churches employing youth workers in recent years and the establishment of some key projects, often with the financial support of local authorities.
	At both national and local levels the Church has had a long history of delivering youth work collaborative working partnerships with national and local government. Currently there are approximately 440,000 children and young people up to the age of 25 attending church-based activities and youth groups which are staffed by 116,000 volunteers and an additional 4,900 employed adults.
	There is still a desire to work in partnership but most recent conversations have inevitably focused on how reductions in their budgets will impact on projects undertaken by the Church and other voluntary sector organizations. In Lincolnshire the county council is proposing a 60% cut to the youth budget of children's services and there are similar stories from across the country. The Church's concern is not only for young people within it but also those in the wider community.

Ministers of Religion: Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what contingency arrangements the Church Commissioners have made to cover the pension liabilities of former Roman Catholic priests who moved to the Church of England in the last five years.

Tony Baldry: Figures held centrally by the Ministry Division of the Archbishop's Council show that in the period 2005-10 the division's candidate's panel dealt with 14 former Roman Catholic priests seeking ordination in the Church of England, of whom 11 were accepted for ministry. As there is discretion at diocesan level over the requirements for acceptance into ministry, not all cases are centrally recorded, meaning the national figure is likely to be higher. There are, however, no pensions implications for the Church Commissioners who are responsible only for clergy pensions earned for service in the Church of England before 1998.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Water

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to raise the profile of sanitation and water through the Sanitation and Water for All initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is a member of the Sanitation and Water for All initiative (SWA) Steering Committee. Having played a leadership role in establishing of SWA, DFID has recently taken on the role of vice chair of the partnership. We are driving the initiative forward to help the most off-track countries to make tangible progress in water and sanitation.

India: Poverty

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Indian government on its plans to reduce poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: During my visit to India in November 2010, I had discussions with Indian Ministers on India's achievements and future plans for poverty reduction.
	The Indian Government sets out their plans to reduce poverty in 'Five Year Plans'. The current Eleventh Five Year Plan 2007-12 is available at:
	www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/welcome.html

International Assistance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards each of the millennium development goals; what steps he plans to take to ensure further progress; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: Progress against the millennium development goals is recorded in the Department for International Development's (DFID's) annual report which is published on the DFID website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	The Secretary of State for International Development has initiated three thorough reviews of UK bilateral aid, multilateral aid and humanitarian emergency response programmes. These reviews will determine how we can accelerate progress towards the millennium development goals and achieve maximum value for money for the UK taxpayer. The results will be announced in the spring.
	In December 2010 DFID launched two new frameworks for results to tackle malaria and prevent deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. They set out how British aid money will deliver the coalition Government's commitment to help halve malaria deaths in at least ten high burden countries in Africa and Asia and save the lives of at least 50,000 women and 250,000 newborns. Full details are available on the DFID website.

Nigeria: Education

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to increase the geographical coverage of its Education Sector Support programme in Nigeria.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not currently plan to expand the geographical coverage of the Education Sector Support programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN). The programme is working at the Federal level and within six states. This is already a challenging level of operation and the approved coverage for this programme. DFID is currently assessing how best to ensure that more children, particularly girls, access improved education opportunities in Nigeria. We are considering through which mechanisms we can best achieve this, with the emphasis on best value for money.

Overseas Aid: Climate Change

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what use the UK's contribution from the Environmental Transformation Fund to the World Bank's Climate Investment Funds has been put; what proportion of the contribution was in the form of loans; and whether any conditions were placed on the contribution.

Andrew Mitchell: The Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) are not World Bank funds, but rather are managed by an equal number of developing and developed countries. The World Bank acts as trustee and, alongside other multilateral development banks, is one of the agencies recipient countries may choose to implement their national programmes.
	The UK's £735 million contribution to the CIFs is helping 45 developing countries to pilot transformational investments in clean technology, sustainable management of forests, increased access to renewable energy, and climate resilient development. For example, the CIFs are expected to install over 12.5GW of renewable energy-enough for the equivalent of nearly 16 million households-and increase crop yields for 440,000 people in Bangladesh through improved water management.
	The money provided to the Environmental Transformation Fund under the 2007 comprehensive spending review was a capital grant contribution. The UK's contribution to the CIFs is then used to make loans on highly concessional terms, with a small proportion available as grants. Once loans are repaid to the CIFs, they can be reinvested in further programmes to help other developing countries tackle climate change.
	As a first mover in the development of the CIFs, the UK's contribution of £735 million has leveraged over five times this amount ($6.4 billion) from other donors, much of this in the form of grants. These donor pledges are, in turn, leveraging further funds from the multilateral development banks and the private sector. For example, for every £1 of finance for clean technology we have agreed to spend, another £8 is being mobilised from other sources.
	In accordance with the International Development Act 2002, no conditions were placed on the UK's contribution, although we are working hard to ensure that the CIFs deliver results and value for money.

Overseas Aid: Climate Change

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what powers he has to determine how the UK's contribution to the World Bank Climate Investment Funds is spent.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK's contribution to the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) is paid into a trust fund with other donors' funds. Funding decisions are taken on a consensus basis by the CIF committees which have equal representation from developed and developing countries. The UK is represented on all the CIF committees. To ensure the CIFs deliver with maximum impact we have agreed a set of results frameworks which we will use to assess all funding proposals.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituency Boundaries

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of redrawing constituency boundaries.

Mark Harper: The Government's current estimate of the costs of undertaking the boundary review under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill is £11.2 million.

House of Lords Reform

Duncan Hames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals on the grandfathering of privileges in the second Chamber he is considering.

Mark Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing a cross-party Committee to produce a draft Bill on House of Lords reform early this year, which will include the Government's proposals on the transition from the House of Lords to a reformed second chamber.

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Electoral Commission on the preparation time required between Royal Assent to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act and the date of the referendum to be held on the alternative vote; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence on the matter.

Mark Harper: The Electoral Commission wrote to the Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform on 11 January highlighting the key dates and milestones that must be met between Royal Assent and a polling day of 5 May in order for the Electoral Commission to successfully deliver its key responsibilities in relation to the referendum on the alternative vote. The Electoral Commission will be publishing this letter on their website and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government have identified any alternative date for a referendum on the alternative vote in the event that the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act does not receive Royal Assent in time for a poll on 5 May 2011.

Mark Harper: The Government are committed to the voting systems referendum on 5 May 2011. No alternative date has been identified.

Constituencies

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects his proposals for fewer and more equally-sized constituencies to be implemented.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of new social rented homes required to be let at the rate of 80% of market rent to meet his target for new affordable home construction by 2015.

Grant Shapps: We will be publishing our impact assessment on the affordable rent model shortly.
	The number of homes started and delivered in each year will be dependent on agreements between housing associations and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.

Homelessness

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who are homeless in  (a) England,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) Hastings and Rye constituency.

Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Data collected includes the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to ensure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available and this information is also collected.
	The number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty during the July to September quarter of 2010 and the number of households in temporary accommodation at the end of September in East Sussex and England are given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty  Number of households in temporary accommodation 
			 Eastbourne 3 31 
			 Hastings 15 26 
			 Lewes 9 57 
			 Rother 15 12 
			 Wealden 33 54 
			 Cast Sussex 75 180 
			 England 11,840 49,680 
			  Source: P1E returns, July to September quarter 2010 
		
	
	The data is not collected at constituency level. Hastings and Rye constituency is made up of electoral wards in Hastings and Rother.
	Further information for each local authority is given in the following table at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1791630.xls
	Information is also collected on rough sleeping. Since 1998, only councils in areas with a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to conduct an official rough sleeper count-which meant that only 70 councils submitted information to central Government. Figures published in July 2010 showed that under this previous method, on any given night there were 440 rough sleepers in England. However, the coalition Government wanted a more complete measure of rough sleeping and when the remaining 256 councils provided estimates of the scale of the problem in their areas, this added a further estimated 807 rough sleepers-taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night. All local authorities in East Sussex gave estimates, these are given in the following table along with the England figure:
	
		
			   Number of rough sleepers 
			 Eastbourne 4 
			 Hastings 3 
			 Lewes 2 
			 Rother 4 
			 Wealden 0 
			 East Sussex 13 
			 England 1,247 
			  Source: 2010 local authority street counts and estimates 
		
	
	The data is not collected at constituency level.
	Rough sleeping figures are published by the Department on the DCLG website and are given by local authority in the table at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1648099.xls
	Under new guidance all councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.

Housing Associations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the total number of households in  (a) Coventry,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) nationally are housed by housing associations.

Andrew Stunell: Information for households at local authority level is not available. However, information is available on the number of dwellings owned by registered housing associations in England. Although not identical to figures for households, because some dwellings are empty and others can contain more than one household, these figures are a good proxy for households.
	These figures include not only self-contained dwellings but also some bedspaces within communal accommodation, and this inclusion of bedspaces tends to inflate estimates of the size of the housing association dwelling stock by a small amount.
	These figures show that, on 31 March 2010, 18.3% of dwellings in Coventry, 10.2% of dwellings in the west midlands and 9.9% of dwellings in England were owned by housing associations(1).
	(1) Source:
	TSA Regulatory and Statistical Return.

Housing Associations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing association households were refurbished in the West Midlands in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: Data on dwellings made decent or receiving capital works are not collected from housing associations. The number of housing association owned non-decent homes in the west midlands reduced from 6,814 in April 2009 to 2,314 in April 2010.

Housing: Planning Permission

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the merits of ensuring the new planning system for housing requires local authorities to assess and meet housing need and incentivises local communities to build more homes.

Andrew Stunell: On 21 December 2010 the Minister for Decentralisation, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), announced that the National Planning Policy Framework will streamline the national suite of planning policies including those currently set out in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing.
	Organisations and individuals are currently being invited to offer views on priorities and policies that should be included in the new framework before a draft is produced and available for formal consultation.
	The New Homes Bonus scheme is a powerful, simple, transparent and permanent incentive for local authorities and communities to increase their aspirations for housing growth. Commencing in April 2011, the New Homes Bonus will match fund the additional council tax raised for new homes and properties brought back into use, with an additional amount of £350 for affordable homes, for the following six years.
	Consultation on the New Homes Bonus closed on 24 December 2010. We are currently considering all responses and we will publish the final scheme design in due course.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will undertake an economic impact assessment of the effect on  (a) regeneration and  (b) the level of employment in Tottenham constituency should Tottenham Hotspur Football Club move its operations from Tottenham to Stratford.

Bob Neill: The future use of the Olympic Stadium will be assessed against the five agreed objectives set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire issued to those parties making a formal bid. All relevant factors will be taken into account in coming to a decision.

HEALTH

Breast Cancer: Screening

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on the take-up of breast cancer screening of the availability of mobile screening units.

Paul Burstow: No assessment has been made on the effect of mobile screening units on breast screening uptake. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that mobile units do encourage uptake because they can offer screening in community settings and are more accessible.
	The national health service breast screening programme (NHSBSP) currently invites women aged 50-70 for screening every three years. In 2008-09, the latest period for which statistics are available, over 2.2 million women in this age-group were invited for screening and uptake was 73.6% compared with 73.2% in 2007-08.
	The NHSBSP is in the process of being extended to women aged 47 to 73. The NHS Operating Framework 2011-12, published on 15 December 2010, confirmed that all local breast screening units should continue the extension in 2011-12. Once completed, the extension will result in nearly two million additional women being eligible for screening.

Cancer: Medical Equipment

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ring-fence from reductions his Department's capital expenditure on cancer equipment.

Paul Burstow: In order to meet the needs of local populations, it is the responsibility of individual national health service trusts to purchase cancer equipment from their own financial allocations. The vast majority of NHS services are procured in this way and there are no plans to ring fence capital funding for this purpose.

Cataracts: Medical Treatments

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure specific funds are allocated to enable those with cataracts to have the widest possible choice of eye lens treatment under the GP commissioning framework; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Primary care trust (PCT) recurrent revenue allocations are not broken down by service or policy area. It is currently for PCTs to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities.
	The White Paper "Liberating the NHS" set out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices, supported by the creation of an NHS Commissioning Board. The Government have consulted on how best to implement the White Paper and on 15 December, published their response.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of national health service services include those for patients with cataracts. GP consortia will be responsible for managing their own commissioning budgets, and using these resources to commission services to achieve the best and most cost-efficient outcomes for patients. The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the allocation and management of the majority of NHS resources from 2013-14. The board will make allocations to GP consortia on the basis of achieving equal opportunity of access to healthcare services in all areas relative to the prospective incidence of disease and disability.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend cervical screening to women in England who are  (a) under the age of 25 and  (b) under the age of 25 and have given birth.

Paul Burstow: There are no plans at this time to extend cervical screening in England to women who are aged under the age of 25, or who are under 25 and have given birth. In England, cervical screening currently starts at age 25 years in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS).
	The Department is committed to ensuring that the age at which women are invited for cervical screening is based on the latest available clinical evidence and in the best interests of young women. In May 2009, the ACCS conducted a formal review of the evidence relating to the risks and benefits of cervical screening in women under the age of 25.
	The committee were unanimous in deciding there was no reason to lower the age at which screening commences. The reasons for not lowering the screening age were that cervical cancer is very rare in women aged under 25; there is no clear evidence of an increase in the incidence of cervical cancer following the change to the screening age limit in England; no new scientific evidence was available to support the reintroduction of screening in women aged under 25; there is evidence that treatment following screening in this age group can lead to an increased risk of subsequent premature births, increasing the risk of babies dying or having disabilities; and one in three young women screened aged under 25 would have an abnormal result, as opposed to one in 14 for all women screened, and there is evidence that this causes distress and anxiety.
	The cervical screening age range is a standing item on the agenda of ACCS meetings. The ACCS reviews all new research to assess its significance to the screening programme and makes recommendations to Ministers accordingly.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the biomedical causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In keeping with the Haldane principle, prioritisation of an individual Research Council's spending within its allocation is not a decision for Ministers.
	The MRC supports research into all aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), and welcomes high-quality research applications in this area. The MRC does not normally commission research but supports high-quality investigator led proposals submitted in open competition, the selection of projects for funding is determined through peer review.
	An expert group on CFS/ME established by the MRC has worked with experts in the field of CFS/ME and research leaders in aligned areas to identify and prioritise research topics where the MRC might target efforts to encourage and support high-quality proposals. The MRC is now preparing to take forward these recommendations.
	Further information on research supported by the MRC and about the work of the group, including the recommendations for research topics and priorities can be found at:
	http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Ourresearch/ResearchInitiatives/CFSME/index.htm

Dental Services

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an independent review of Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 on decontamination in primary dental care practices; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-05 was produced with extensive input from dentists, and an expert multi-disciplinary working group. The group included public health experts, scientists and engineers with specialist knowledge of instrument decontamination, including protein removal. The HTM proposes a progressive approach to improving quality and ensuring effective risk reduction for patients and staff. We are confident that the validation processes used were exhaustive and fit for purpose. Drafts of the guidance were shared with an expert steering group and the British Dental Association. Comments from the peer review were considered and changes made where appropriate. In this light, we consider that a further independent review of the HTM would be an unnecessary duplication of the work already carried out.
	The recent survey of decontamination in primary dental care showed that 70%, were already compliant with 20%, very near when the guidance was published. These findings would also suggest that a further review was unnecessary.

Dental Services: Standards

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that dental practices operate at a satisfactory standard of decontamination.

Simon Burns: The Department has issued guidance to the profession in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-05: "Decontamination in primary care dental practices", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This describes both essential quality requirements that all practices need to have in place as well as best practice requirements that all practices should aspire to reach. The Department, with the Infection Prevention Society has issued a self-assessment audit tool to help practices assess their own level of compliance against the guidelines. A CD ROM version of the audit tool will also be distributed to practices very shortly.
	All primary care dental practices will need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) by April 2011. The standard of local decontamination procedures within the practice is an integral part of the Health Care Acquired Infections (HCAI) Code of Practice, and compliance with the Code is included in the essential registration requirements of practices with the CQC.

Departmental Legal Costs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid to each  (a) firm of solicitors and  (b) barristers' chambers in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The Department obtains solicitor and barrister support in two ways. These are described as follows, together with the available data on expenditure and explanatory notes:
	The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Legal Services provides the Department's legal support via a service level agreement, and obtains and pays for such services on behalf of the Department, recharging the Department later. Summary expenditure for the previous five years is presented in the following table. However, DWP are not able to identify expenditure on firms of solicitors or barristers' chambers without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Legal support costs incurred by DWP on behalf of the Department 
			  Financial year  Expenditure (£000) 
			 2005-06 1,140.5 
			 2006-07 947.7 
			 2007-08 985.3 
			 2008-09 617.7 
			 2009-10 1,229.7 
			  Notes: 1. These figures include expenditure relating to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, previously Medicines Control Agency, for the whole period, and for Food Standards Agency up to and including 2006-07. 2. These figures do not include data for other non-departmental public bodies and agencies, which is not held centrally, and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain. 3. These figures include costs awarded against the Department when a case has been lost. We are not able to separate these out without incurring disproportionate cost. 4. These figures exclude the cost of the legal services team itself. 
		
	
	From time to time, directorates in the Department procure solicitor and barrister services directly. Before July 2008, the Department did not collect this data centrally. Data from July 2008 to date is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Legal support expenditure incurred directly by the Department 
			  £ 
			   2008-09  2009-10  Total 
			 Eversheds 1,061,108 - 1,061,108 
			 DLA Piper UK 7,824 1,024,098 1,031,922 
			 Mills and Reeve 103,041 612,166 715,207 
			 Beachcroft 152,983 554,285 707,268 
			 Hempsons 133,773 95,819 229,592 
			 Capsticks 58,231 155,398 213,629 
			 Bevan Brittan 50,651 16,064 66,715 
			 Field Fisher Waterhouse 40,684 - 40,684 
			 Morgan Cole 25,956 - 25,956 
			 Addleshaw Goddard 6,332 - 6,332 
			 Pinsent Masons 6,000 - 6,000 
			 Berwin Leighton Paisner 4,497 - 4,497 
			 Wragge and Co. 2,931 - 2,931 
			 Lee and Priestley 386 - 386 
			 Marsh Brown and Co. - 350 350 
			 Freeth Cartwright 127 - 127 
			 Total 1,654,521 2,458,180 4,112,701 
			  Notes: 1. This data is based on expenditure coded as legal services on the Department's financial system. It includes expenditure with the larger legal firms, but which has not been coded as legal services. The Department may have incurred expenditure with other firms, but we are unable to extract this data without incurring disproportionate cost. 2. This data excludes expenditure to individual barristers engaged on public inquiries.

Diabetes: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of Brighton, Kemptown constituency were diagnosed with  (a) type 1 and  (b) type 2 diabetes in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Data on numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes is collected as part of the National Diabetes Audit (NDA).
	Participation in the NDA is not mandatory and data is collected by primary care trust (PCT) rather than by constituency. Brighton and Hove PCT area had only partial participation in the 2008-09 NDA, which is the last year for which figures are available. The NDA collated data on 6,658 persons with diabetes in Brighton and Hove PCT. Of these, 911 had type 1 diabetes, 5,625 had type 2 diabetes and 122 had other types of diabetes. It is estimated that there are approximately 13,000 people with diabetes in Brighton and Hove PCT. This estimate uses the PBS Diabetes Population Prevalence Model Phase 3 (PBS3 model), developed by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory.

Disability

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has carried out on the effects of measures announced as a result of the June 2010 Budget and the comprehensive spending review on people with disabilities.

Paul Burstow: The 2010 spending review recognised the importance of social care in protecting the most vulnerable in society, including disabled people. In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging local government settlement, the coalition Government have allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. Our assessment of the settlement is that, with an ambitious programme of efficiency, there is enough funding available to enable local authorities both to protect people's access to services and deliver new approaches to improve quality and outcomes.
	We have achieved this in two ways:
	The national health service will transfer some funding from the health capital budget to health revenue, to be spent on measures that support social care, which also benefits health. This funding will rise to £1 billion in 2014-15, and will promote improved joint working between the health and social care systems. The new NHS operating framework set out specific primary care trust (PCT) allocations that they will transfer to local authorities for spending on social care services to benefit health, and to improve overall health gain. PCTs and local authorities will need to work together to agree jointly appropriate areas for social care investment, with a shared analysis of need and a common agreement on the outcomes to be met.
	Additional grant funding, rising to £1 billion by 2014-15, will be made available for social care. This funding will be allocated in addition to the Department's existing social care grants, which will rise in line with inflation. Total grant funding from the Department for social care will reach £2.4 billion by 2014-15. In order to support local flexibility and to reduce administrative burdens, this funding will go to authorities through the formula grant.
	Decisions about access to social care services are taken by local authorities. We would expect authorities to assess the impact of their decisions on those with disabilities.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) NHS and  (b) voluntary sector residential places are available in (i) England and (ii) West Yorkshire for the treatment of people with drug addictions.

Anne Milton: Data on the total number of residential places available in England or West Yorkshire in either national health service or non-statutory settings is not available centrally.
	However, local drug partnerships will have information on the level of local provision for drug dependency. Up to date contact details for each partnership can be found via the Home Office website at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100419081707/http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/dat/directory/
	Data on the number of NHS residential drug treatment places is not centrally available because planning is typically done on the basis of the estimated number of available treatment episodes rather than the number of physical places/beds. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) does not hold data on the estimated number of available in-patient detoxification treatment episodes in NHS settings.
	Most, but not all, non-statutory providers of specialist residential drug treatment in England provide information on their services, on a voluntary basis, to a national online directory called Rehab Online, which is maintained by the NTA for Substance Misuse. Information from Rehab Online currently suggests that there are 2,285 beds available within the voluntary/private sector (non-NHS). This includes some alcohol only beds. 187 of these are in the Yorkshire and Humber region, with 12 beds in West Yorkshire.
	These data are incomplete because it does not include data from all non-statutory providers or any from the NHS services.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) NHS and  (b) voluntary sector non-residential places are available in (i) England and (ii) West Yorkshire for the treatment of people with drug addictions.

Anne Milton: Providers of non-residential drug treatment in England accept anyone assessed as having a drug problem. This provision is planned and commissioned on the basis of an estimated number of dependent drug users in every local area rather than on a number of physical community based treatment slots. The number of adults (over 18s) in contact with community drug treatment in England in 2009-10 was 206,889, of which 25,479 were in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The average mean wait to commence treatment is six days.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) residential and  (b) non-residential places in the (i) NHS and (ii) voluntary sector for the treatment of people with drug addictions are occupied by persons with a criminal conviction who are attending treatment as a condition of a court order.

Anne Milton: Data on the number of people with a criminal conviction in drug treatment as a result of a court order are not collected.

Eggs: Contamination

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to reduce the level of poor quality and contaminated egg imports.

Anne Milton: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has responsibility for policy on food safety, that general food law places the onus on food businesses to ensure that all of their ingredients and products are safe and compliant with any relevant legislation. In light of the recent dioxin contamination incident originating in Germany, the FSA has taken the opportunity to remind food businesses again of their obligations with regard to food safety. Nevertheless, while they must meet these obligations, the actual sourcing of raw materials is a commercial matter for the businesses themselves.

General Practitioners

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the GP consortia pathfinder programme.

Simon Burns: Any costs associated with establishing pathfinders will come from existing primary care trust budgets. Clusters will provide a development fund of £2 per head, in addition to, and alongside, existing practice based commissioning funding, to support the development of general practitioner consortiums. The Department is not monitoring spend on the pathfinder programme.

Genito-urinary Medicine: Young People

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for future funding for sexual health services for young people in  (a) England and  (b) Bolton West constituency.

Anne Milton: In our White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England", published on 30 November 2010, we set our ambition for the future of public health. Core features are the establishment of a new body, Public Health England, as part of the Department, and the return to local government of public health leadership and responsibility. There will be ring-fenced public health funding from within the national health service budget. A copy of the White Paper has already been placed in the Library.
	On 21 December 2010, we published the consultation document "Healthy Lives, Healthy People: consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health", a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. The consultation period ends on 31 March. For sexual health, we propose that local authorities will be responsible for commissioning comprehensive open-access sexual health services using funds from the ring-fenced public health budget. These arrangements will also cover sexual health services for young people.

Health Services: East Sussex

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many temporary  (a) nurses,  (b) doctors and  (c) office staff were employed in (i) the Conquest Hospital, (ii) Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust and (iii) East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust in each of the last five years; and what the annual cost to the public purse was of each such category of appointment.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table  1: Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): non-medical bank staff in specified organisations as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			  Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust (PCT)  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting bank staff 9 - 9 6 4 
			 Unqualified nurse bank staff - - 11 17 2 
			   
			  East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting bank staff 111 66 164 42 120 
			 Unqualified nurse bank staff 251 166 167 112 214 
			  Notes: 1. Work force census figures are not available for individual hospitals. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of the Conquest Hospital, which is part of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. 2. The work force census does not collect information on the numbers of temporary or agency staff. The census does include data on bank nurses for both qualified and unqualified nursing staff and these are provided in the above table. Information on bank doctors is not collected. 3. '-' denotes zero. 4. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The NHS Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Salaries and  w ages: non-NHS Staff in specified organisations 
			  £000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			  Hastings and Rother PCT  
			 Medical 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 78 0 49 148 44 
			 Administrative and clerical 66 182 205 358 1,023 
			   
			  East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 Medical 1,041 520 1,129 2,068 3,001 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,378 0 3 8 78 
			 Administrative and clerical 26 3 11 17 21 
			  Notes: 1. The Department does not collect data in respect of individual hospitals. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of the Conquest Hospital, which is part of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. 2. The above table contains figures for spend on non-NHS staff. 'Non-NHS staff' denotes staff who do not have a permanent contract of employment with the national health service, such as agency staff. Locum and bank staff are not included as these are included within the NHS staff category in the financial returns, and are not separately identifiable from the data. 3. The Department does not collect information exactly in the format requested. For 'nurses', the closest equivalent information is held under the category 'Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff'. For 'doctors', the closest equivalent is 'Medical staff' and for 'office staff' the closest equivalent is 'Administrative and clerical staff'. 4. Hastings and Rother PCT was established in 2006-07 following the merger of its two predecessor PCTs-Bexhill and Rother PCT and Hastings and St Leonards PCT. The figures provided for 2005-06 are therefore the sum of the two predecessor PCTs. 5. The financial returns are a means for the NHS to provide planning and costing information to the Department, and these provide a more detailed breakdown of individual expenditure lines reported in the audited summarisation schedules. The financial returns data are not themselves audited, but are instead validated by reference to the audited summarisation schedules from which the NHS summarised accounts are prepared. There are a number of factors which may distort the figures and they may contain errors and omissions at an individual level (mainly as a result of classification errors) which are not material at the national level.  Source: Financial returns (2005-06 to 2009-10)

Health Services: East Sussex

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital managers were employed in  (a) the Conquest Hospital,  (b) Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust and  (c) East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: non-medical staff in each specified organisation by main staff group as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust (PCT) 663 651 669 924 896 
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 347 350 371 415 403 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 257 262 275 320 295 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 90 88 96 95 108 
			 Support to clinical staff 187 177 184 339 322 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 148 144 153 309 292 
			 Support to ST and T staff 39 33 31 30 30 
			 NHS infrastructure support 126 121 111 167 169 
			 Central functions 90 105 98 135 126 
			 Senior managers 8 6 1 8 9 
			 Managers 28 10 12 24 34 
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 3 3 3 3 2 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 5,165 4,924 4,892 4,746 5,094 
			 Professionally qualified clinical staff 2,094 2,080 2,119 2,030 2,170 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,607 1,595 1,640 1,545 1,668 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 487 485 479 485 502 
			 Support to clinical staff 1,974 1,834 1,786 1,617 1,811 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 1,650 1,568 1,545 1,375 1,545 
			 Support to ST and T staff 324 266 241 242 266 
			 NHS infrastructure support 1,090 1,009 985 1,098 1,113 
			 Central functions 300 305 311 312 315 
			 Hotel, property and estates 699 626 596 700 694 
			 Senior managers 19 24 23 22 22 
			 Managers 72 54 55 64 82 
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 7 1 2 1 0 
			  Notes: 1. Work force census figures are not available for individual hospitals. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of the Conquest Hospital, which is part of the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. 2. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level, figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The NHS Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Ipswich Hospital: Manpower

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital managers were employed in  (a) Ipswich Hospital,  (b) Suffolk primary care trust and  (c) in the NHS in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The following table shows hospital and community health non medical staff in each specified national health service hospital and community health service organisation by main staff group as at 30 September each year.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Non-medical staff in each specified organisation by main staff group as at 30 September each year 
			  Headcount 
			   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009 
			 Total specified organisations(1) 10,979 10,226 9,970 10,114 10,428 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 5,109 4,828 4,836 5,055 5,383 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 3,744 3,536 3,558 3,716 3,984 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 1,365 1,292 1,278 1,339 1,399 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 4,041 3,747 3,540 3,425 3,302 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 3,448 3,150 2,984 2,853 2,693 
			 Support to ST and T staff 593 597 556 572 609 
			   
			  NHS infrastructure support 1,821 1,645 1,588 1,628 1,737 
			 Central functions 702 653 644 682 735 
			 Hotel, property and estates 753 699 677 678 686 
			 Senior managers 101 72 78 69 92 
			 Managers 265 221 189 199 224 
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 8 6 6 6 6 
			   
			 Suffolk Primary Care Trust 2,181 1,939 1,865 2,129 2,099 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,068 979 984 1,146 1,084 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 799 733 714 836 748 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 269 246 270 310 336 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 746 635 579 660 609 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 645 533 481 574 531 
			 Support to ST and T staff 101 102 98 86 78 
			   
			  NHS infrastructure support 359 319 296 317 400 
			 Central functions 177 165 150 179 218 
			 Hotel, property and estates 35 37 50 57 53 
			 Senior managers 26 14 22 17 33 
			 Managers 121 103 74 64 96 
			 Other staff or those with unknown classification 8 6 6 6 6 
			   
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust(2) 3,651 3,530 3,501 3,434 3,896 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,940 1,855 1,889 1,842 2,319 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,327 1,270 1,319 1,275 1,740 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 613 585 570 567 579 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 1,350 1,342 1,296 1,283 1,256 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 1,016 991 973 938 914 
			 Support to ST and T staff 334 351 323 345 342 
			   
			  NHS infrastructure support 361 333 316 309 321 
			 Central functions 211 187 176 170 182 
			 Hotel, property and estates 95 93 87 90 90 
			 Senior managers 9 11 10 10 14 
			 Managers 46 42 43 39 35 
			   
			 Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 2,362 2,217 2,073 1,907 1,939 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 794 766 726 762 768 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 632 614 593 621 607 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 162 152 133 141 161 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 974 907 820 612 624 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 952 881 799 587 571 
			 Support to ST and T staff 22 26 21 25 53 
			   
			  NHS infrastructure support 594 544 527 533 547 
			 Central functions 215 201 209 217 212 
			 Hotel, property and estates 291 272 255 240 248 
			 Senior managers 19 12 14 12 19 
			 Managers 69 59 49 64 68 
			   
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 2,785 2,540 2,531 2,644 2,494 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 1,307 1,228 1,237 1,305 1,212 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 986 919 932 984 889 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 321 309 305 321 323 
			   
			  Support to clinical staff 971 863 845 870 813 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 835 745 731 754 677 
			 Support to ST and T staff 136 118 114 116 136 
			   
			  NHS infrastructure support 507 449 449 469 469 
			 Central functions 99 100 109 116 123 
			 Hotel, property and estates 332 297 285 291 295 
			 Senior managers 47 35 32 30 26 
			 Managers 29 17 23 32 25 
			 (1) It is impossible to accurately map work force figures to geographical areas. The organisations listed cover the parliamentary constituencies of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, West Suffolk and South Suffolk. (2) Figures include bank nurses. The number of qualified bank nurses reported by Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust increased by 450 between 2008 and 2009. On 1 October 2006 Ipswich PCT, Suffolk Coastal PCT, Central Suffolk PCT and Suffolk West PCT merged to form Suffolk Primary Care Trust. Figures for 2005 are an aggregate of these predecessor organisations.  Note: Data Quality. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source: The NHS Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Lyme Disease

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 233-34W, on Lyme disease, whether he has plans to record confirmed cases of Lyme disease; if he will make Lyme disease a notifiable disease; and whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Executive on the co-ordination of methods to collect data on the number of cases of Lyme disease.

Anne Milton: Borrelia spp, the causative agent of Lyme disease, was made a notifiable causative agent in the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010, and all laboratory isolations of  Borrelia spp in a human sample must now be notified to the Health Protection Agency in England. This mirrors arrangements in Scotland, where  Borrelia burgdorferi is a notifiable causative agent under the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008.

Medical Equipment: Contamination

Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to the NHS on steps to prevent hospital instruments contaminated by other patients' flesh and bone from being used in operations.

Simon Burns: The Department provides guidance to the national health service on the process of decontamination in "Health Technical Memorandum 01-01: Decontamination of reusable medical devices Part A: Management and environment", which has already been placed in the Library. Specific guidance on the washing and disinfection of surgical instruments is provided in three volumes of "Health Technical Memorandum 2030: Washer-disinfectors."
	The documents have been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many low-security psychiatric beds are available in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  how many places are available in  (a) secure hospitals and  (b) regional medium secure units.

Paul Burstow: This information is not available in the requested format. Information is collected centrally on mental health bed occupancy levels, but this does not identify security levels. According to data collected by the Department of Health's KH03 form, as of September 2010 there were 23,280 beds available in national health service organisations to mental health patients in England, of which an average of 20,165 were occupied. More information about NHS bed occupancy is available from the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/Beds/DH_083781
	We also collect data on the number of beds in high secure services, which are in the following table:
	
		
			  High secure services 2010-11 bed capacity 
			  Number 
			  Service  Ashworth  Broadmoor  Rampton  Total 
			 Male personality disorder 228 232 201 661 
			 Male learning disability 0 0 48 48 
			 Male dangerous and severe personality disorder 0 48 60 108 
			 Female 0 0 50 50 
			 Total 228 280 359 867 
			  Source: High Secure Commissioning Team.

NHS 111

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology will be used by Sheffield University to evaluate the effectiveness of the NHS 111 helpline pilots.

Simon Burns: The NHS 111 pilots will be evaluated using a baseline and change methodology, alongside comparison with control sites. It combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including a population survey, user survey, analysis of service usage, and performance data from the NHS 111 pilots. The evaluation will also be informed by qualitative staff interviews and workshops.

NHS: Negligence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has paid to patients in ex-gratia payments to avoid ligation proceedings in each of the last three years.  [Official Report, 1 February 2011, Vol. 522, c. 7MC.]

Simon Burns: HM Treasury consider ex-gratia payments to be a form of special payment. HM Treasury's definition includes personal injury claims that are settled out of court. Information about local ex-gratia payments made by the national health service to patients to avoid litigation is not held centrally. Local NHS bodies record 'losses and special payments' in their consolidated accounts and these will include all ex-gratia payments, not just those paid to patients or to avoid litigation.
	The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) records data held centrally specifically on ex-gratia payments made for clinical, employer and public liability claims settled out of court. As the NHSLA settles the vast majority of its claims this way, they fall under HM Treasury's definition of ex-gratia. Data provided by the NHSLA will cover payments to patients, although some will be made to families/dependants, employees and visitors.
	Data on actual payments made each year can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The NHSLA has therefore supplied data in the following table which shows the total amount of damages paid on claims settled out of court where the claim was closed between 2007-10. It should be noted that some actual payments for these claims may have been made in earlier years to when the claim was closed.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Clinical liability  Employer and public liability  Total amount paid 
			 2007-08 225,023,267 22,257,496 247,280,762 
			 2008-09 196,195,332 23,323,690 219,519,022 
			 2009-10 230,996,377 20,312,554 466,799,784

NHS: Pay

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chief executives of NHS trusts have had a reduction in the level of their salary since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally.
	National health service trusts may pay their staff such remuneration and allowances, and employ them on such terms and conditions, as they consider appropriate. NHS trusts are public bodies and the remuneration of their senior executive teams is a matter of public record and published in their annual accounts.
	On 24 May 2010, Sir David Nicholson wrote to chairs of NHS trusts, strongly encouraging them to consider their approach to pay this year in the context of the Government's wider approach to senior pay in the public sector, and in the light of decisions made for other NHS organisations. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Reorganisation

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of his proposed restructuring of the NHS.

Simon Burns: The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run, including for the structures of primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and the Department. The costs of the transition to the new system will be published shortly in an impact assessment.

NHS: Reorganisation

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses his Department received from GPs to its recent consultation Equity and Excellence, Liberating the NHS.

Simon Burns: The Department received some 6,000 responses to the NHS White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" and the associated consultation documents. Around 200 of these responses were from individual general practitioners (GPs), GP practices or consortia. There may well have been further responses from individual GPs who did not identify themselves and who will therefore not be included in this figure. We also received submissions from organisations that represent GPs, for instance, NHS Alliance and the Royal College of GPs.

Pleural Plaques: Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of cases of pleural plaques in residents of Sunderland.

Simon Burns: The Department has made no recent estimate of the number of cases of pleural plaques in residents of Sunderland. However, information on the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a named primary or secondary diagnosis of pleural plaques (ICD-10 code J92) in the Sunderland Primary Care Trust (PCT) area has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of FCEs with a named primary or secondary diagnosis of pleural plaques 
			   Sunderland Teaching PCT 
			 2009-10 676 
			  Notes: 1. A FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital, or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07, and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.  Source: NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Primary Care Trusts: Redundancy

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of primary care trust staff who have been made redundant in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The number of primary care trust staff who have been made compulsorily redundant for the latest period for which figures are available is:
	Quarter 2 (July to September) of 2010-11: 157 staff were made compulsorily redundant.

Radiotherapy

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of Cyberknife technology for cancer treatment.

Paul Burstow: Cyberknife delivers stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). A sub-group to look at the co-ordination and development of SBRT has been established by the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group (NRIG) to inform its forthcoming report on radiosurgery. The sub-group is undertaking a comparative evaluation of the different machines capable of delivering SRBT, including Cyberknife. The group will also consider the available evidence and provide advice to commissioners on this treatment.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) plans to use the work of NRIG to identify whether there are any indications that would be appropriate for them to evaluate further via the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee or other programmes at NICE.
	"Improving Outcomes-A Strategy for Cancer", published January 2011, acknowledges the importance of providing patients with access to new and emerging treatments and techniques as soon as possible. The strategy confirms our intention to publish guidance on stereotactic body radiotherapy this year.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust: Ancillary Staff

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-medical staff were employed by South London Healthcare NHS Trust in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Figures on how many non-medical staff were employed by South London Healthcare NHS Trust in the last period for which figures are available are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Non-medical staff in the Sou th London Healthcare NHS Trust  by main staff group, as at 30 September 2010 
			   Headcount 
			  South London Healthcare NHS Trust 5,384 
			   
			  Professionally qualified clinical staff 2,733 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 2,031 
			 Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical (ST&T) staff 702 
			  Support to clinical staff 1,925 
			 Support to doctors and nursing staff 1,523 
			 Support to ST&T staff 390 
			 Support to ambulance staff 13 
			  NHS infrastructure support 733 
			 Central functions 498 
			 Hotel, property and estates 160 
			 Senior managers 19 
			 Managers 56 
			  Notes: Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. When overall headcount figures are split into sub categories the sum of the sub totals may exceed the overall sum due to inclusion of staff in multiple sub categories.  Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Monthly data: As from 21 July 2010 The NHS Information Centre has published experimental, provisional monthly NHS work force data. As expected with provisional, experimental statistics, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly work force data are not directly comparable with the annual work force census; they only include those staff on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) (i.e. the do not include primary care staff or bank staff), they also include locum doctors (not counted in the annual census). There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at the following website:  www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce  Source: The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care Monthly Workforce Statistics.

Transition Programme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality of 20 December 2010, 
	(1)  what the constituent parts are of the Transition Programme; and what the  (a) terms of reference,  (b) purpose and  (c) membership is of the working groups involved in their delivery;
	(2)  what programme boards were involved in the Transition Programme, referred to in the letter sent to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health of 20 December 2010; what the membership is of each such board; on what dates such boards have held meetings; and what the frequency of meetings of each such board is.

Simon Burns: The constituent parts of the transition programme consist of:
	1st Tier: Departmental Board-Chair: Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State
	2nd Tier: DH Executive Board-Chair: Una O'Brien, Permanent Secretary (formerly the Transition Board)
	3rd Tier: Transition Programme Board-Chair: Richard Douglas, Director General, Policy, Strategy and Finance
	4th Tier: Commissioning Development Board-Chair: Barbara Hakin
	Provider Development Board- Chair: Ian Dalton.
	The purpose, terms of reference and membership for these groups have been placed in the Library.

Transition Programme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality of 20 December 2010, if he will publish  (a) the column headings for each risk register maintained by each constituent part of the Transition Programme,  (b) the name and number of each individual risk,  (c) the estimated likelihood and severity of each risk in its unmitigated form,  (d) the estimated likelihood and severity of each risk in its residual form,  (e) whether the risk mitigation on each risk was to tolerate, treat or terminate and  (f) the date on which any risks were escalated to a higher level and to whom such risks were escalated for each risk register maintained by each constituent part of the transition programme.

Simon Burns: The right hon. Member submitted a Freedom of Information request for information on the risk register on 29 November 2010. This request was turned down and following an appeal by the right hon. Member the Department is conducting an internal review, which is expected to be completed by 4 February. A full reply on conclusion of the review will be provided to the right hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Transition Programme

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality of 20 December 2010, what the escalation route was from programme boards to higher levels of the transition programme.

Simon Burns: The transition programme consists of a collection of implementation programmes, which have an agreed governance structure. The programmes escalation route includes four tiers, as follows:
	Top Tier: Departmental Board
	3rd Tier: Departmental Executive Board (Formerly the Transition Board )
	2nd Tier: Transition Programme Board
	Bottom Tier: Commissioning Development Board
	Provider Development Board.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Compensation

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many claims to the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease scheme have been  (a) made and  (b) settled from individuals in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales since the scheme's inception.

Charles Hendry: The total number of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) claims received by the Department by the deadline to register a claim in March 2004 was 591,758, of which 591,677 have been settled by payment, denial or withdrawal as at December 2010. A breakdown of this by England, Scotland and Wales is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Total claims received  Claims settled 
			 COPD claims England 476,985 476,919 
			 COPD claims Scotland 29,405 29,401 
			 COPD claims Wales 80,086 80,072 
			 Total COPD claims received 591,758 591,677

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Compensation

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average award made through the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease scheme has been since the scheme's inception.

Charles Hendry: Of the 591,768 claims made by the deadline to register a claim in March 2004, 454,686 have been settled by payment and the average award of this cohort was £5,360. Once Compensation Recovery Unit payments are taken into account the average payment was £5,210. The settlement bandings for those claims that have been settled via the main claims handling scheme (i.e. excluding those that have settled via Entry of Judgment(1) in England and Wales or the Unaccepted Offers Protocol (UOP) in Scotland or without going through the full medical process nor the Fast Track Scheme) are:
	
		
			  Main scheme settlement bandings  Live  Widow  Estate  Total 
			 Less than £1,000 35,547 15,311 34,176 85,034 
			 £1,000-5,000 46,918 15,462 28,406 90,786 
			 £5,000-10,000 6,642 3,750 22,099 32,491 
			 £10,000-20,000 5,222 7,432 17,190 29,844 
			 More than £20,000 6,087 12,125 11,147 29,359 
			 Total 100,416 54,080 113,018 267,514 
		
	
	(1) Entry Of Judgment claims were those where the claimant did not accept the compensation offer but the Judge overseeing the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation ruled that the award should he made and the claim closed. The Unaccepted Offers Protocol was the Scottish equivalent of this arrangement.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Compensation

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how long on average claims to the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease scheme have taken to settle since the scheme's inception.

Charles Hendry: Given the scale of the compensation scheme and the wide range of issues that effected claims progression it is not possible to produce a folly meaningful average figure. However, the following table provides a profile for the 591,677 claims settled to date. 82% of claims were settled within five years. It should be noted that this includes claims denied, withdrawn and struck out, as well as those claims settled by payment:
	
		
			  Settlement timing profile  Claim registration to date of settlement 
			 <1 year 17,756 
			 1-2 years 115.890 
			 2-3 years 144,437 
			 3-4 years 124,741 
			 4-5 years 85,719 
			 5-6 years 40,150 
			 6-7 years 22,747 
			 7-8 years 14,711 
			 8-9 years 10,149 
			 9-10 years 7,066 
			 10 years+ 8,311 
			 Total 591,677 
		
	
	The main reasons for delays in settlement related to the involvement of third party employers, claimants becoming protected parties or the death of the claimant while the claim remained in process.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Compensation

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much administration of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease scheme has cost to the public purse in each year since its inception.

Charles Hendry: As at 31 October 2010, these costs amounted to £715 million since April 1999 in relation to the administration of the COPD and VWF compensation schemes and other coal health related claims.
	These costs include the Department's claims handling, legal, records management, audit activity and associated administrative costs.
	Administrative costs cannot be broken down by individual compensation scheme.
	A yearly breakdown of expenditure is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 April 1999 to March 2003 (1)139.8 
			 2003-04 84.4 
			 2004-05 103.3 
			 2005-06 101.5 
			 2006-07 84.2 
			 2007-08 81.1 
			 2008-09 61.1 
			 2009-10 47.8 
			 2010-11 (up to 31 October 2010) 12.1 
			 (1) Please note that information for this period cannot be broken down by year.

EAGA: Contracts

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contracts and grants his Department and its predecessor awarded to Eaga in each of the last three years; and for what purpose each was awarded.

Gregory Barker: In 2005, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs awarded a contract to Eaga plc to manage the Warm Front scheme that provides heating and insulation measures to vulnerable private sector households. The contract runs to the end of March 2011 with an option to extend for a further two years.

Energy Supply

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take as a result of his forecasts of levels of energy supply and demand; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The Energy Bill seeks to amend existing legislation to require the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, which governs Ofgem, to produce an annual report on the security of the electricity supply, including how much capacity GB will need in the future. The report is to be provided to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is best placed to make the judgment, taking into account factors such as costs and acceptability of interruption of supply.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will review the range of assessments provided by Ofgem and will consider the wider political landscape and work across DECC, for example work related to energy efficiency and meeting renewables and emissions targets.
	My right hon. Friend will then publish his assessment of capacity needed to meet electricity demand in Great Britain.

Energy: Prices

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had recent discussions with Ofgem on the compliance of energy suppliers with the Overarching Standards of Conduct with respect to the requirement not to supply products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet with Ofgem on a regular basis to discuss market issues. Ofgem is currently reviewing the retail market and, as part of this, will be looking at how effectively the energy companies have implemented the reforms introduced following its 2008 Energy Supply Probe, including overarching standards of conduct, one of which concerned the offering of unnecessarily complex or confusing products. Ofgem plan to complete its review by March 2011.

Energy: Prices

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to give Ofgem the power to investigate energy suppliers that sell energy products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: To meet its principal duty, to protect the interests of consumers, Ofgem actively monitors the activities of licence holders and therefore does not need the additional powers proposed to investigate energy suppliers' compliance with the overarching standards, one of which concerned the offering of unnecessarily complex or confusing products.
	In an open letter Ofgem has stated that they have regard to the overarching standards when considering their priorities for investigating potential licence breaches and when considering consumer detriment in the context of investigations.
	This letter is available online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/ensuppro/Documents1/Standards%20of%20conduct%20for%20suppliers% 20in%20the%20retail%20energy%20market.pdf
	In addition, Ofgem is currently reviewing the retail market and, as part of this, will be looking at how effectively the energy companies have implemented the reforms introduced following its 2008 Energy Supply Probe, including overarching standards of conduct. Ofgem plan to complete its review by March 2011.

Natural Gas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects on global warming of an expansion of the extraction of gas from shale; and what the policy of his Department is on such extraction.

Charles Hendry: Shale gas exploitation in other countries suggests that the impact on global warming from the extraction and use of this resource can sometimes be higher than that of conventional gas, because of increased drilling density and well site operations. This impact is expected to vary more between individual shale gas exploitation operations than it does between individual conventional gas fields, making it relatively location dependent.
	In the UK the first exploration well designed to evaluate shale gas potential is currently drilling west of Blackpool. However there is no current commercial production of shale gas within UK territory and no assessment of the potential impact on global warming of such operations has yet been made.
	Government support industry's endeavours in pursuing such energy sources so long as the tapping of such resources proves to be technically, economically, and environmentally viable.

Natural Gas: Safety

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many reported gas escapes there were in December  (a) 2010,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2008; and which (i) company and (ii) gas network was responsible in each such case.

Charles Hendry: This is a matter for Ofgem who inform us that they do not collect this information on a monthly basis. However annual information is available for the number of public reports of gas escapes made to the four gas distribution network operators as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Gas distribution network operators 
			   National grid gas  Scotia gas networks  Northern gas networks  Wales and West utilities  Total 
			 2007-08 602,205 335,555 148,639 112,126 1,198,525 
			 2008-09 603,685 364,082 127,088 113,156 1,208,011 
			 2009-10 580,371 345,624 122,957 109,446 1,158,398 
			 Total 1,786,261 1,045,261 398,684 334,728 3,564,934

Natural Gas: Safety

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many reportable gas escapes were still awaiting repair in the latest period for which figures are available; and which  (a) company and  (b) gas network was responsible for the outstanding repairs in each such case.

Charles Hendry: This is a matter for Ofgem who inform us that they do not currently collect data on the number of escapes awaiting repair. However, Ofgem is developing a way to assess the time taken by Gas Distribution Network operators to repair gas escapes and how they prioritise their work to deal with escapes as part of the forthcoming price control.

Natural Gas: Safety

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average time taken to repair reportable gas escapes in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2009 and  (c) 2010.

Charles Hendry: This is a matter for Ofgem who inform us that they do not hold data on the time taken to repair gas escapes. However, Ofgem is developing a way to assess the time taken by Gas Distribution Network operators to repair gas escapes and how they prioritise their work to deal with escapes as part of the forthcoming price control.

Natural Gas: Storage

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many natural gas storage facilities  (a) are in operation,  (b) are under development,  (c) have received planning permission,  (d) are awaiting planning permission and  (e) have been announced but are not yet subject to a planning application; what the (i) capacity or planned capacity and (ii) location is for each such facility; and what the planned commissioning date is for each such facility.

Charles Hendry: Most of the information requested is published in National Grid's annual "Ten Year Statement", last up-dated in December 2010; see Tables 4.7C-F. The "Ten Year Statement" is available at:
	http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/E60C7955-5495-4A8A-8E80-8BB4002F602F/44779/TenYearStatement2010.pdf

Natural Gas: Storage

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the suitability of salt caverns for storage of natural gas reserves.

Charles Hendry: Storage of Natural Gas in salt caverns is a mature and well-established technology and there are currently over 70 salt storage facilities in use around the world.
	Under the GB consents regime, site-specific issues are a matter for consideration during the consents application process.

Natural Gas: Storage

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what  (a) discussions and  (b) other communication his Department has had with the Crown Estate on the charging rates applied by the Crown Estate for use of depleted offshore gas fields under its ownership for gas storage in the last 12 months; and what the outcome of such communications was.

Charles Hendry: The Department has had no communication with the Crown Estate on this subject since 6 May 2010.

Nuclear Power Stations

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will establish an inquiry into the need for new nuclear power stations.

Charles Hendry: No. The Government, following extensive public consultation, are satisfied that there is a clear need for new nuclear power stations to help provide the UK with secure low carbon energy.

Renewable Energy

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely proportion of energy which will be generated from renewable sources in 2020.

Charles Hendry: The UK has a target to generate 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The Government are committed to achieving this target.
	Recent analysis indicates that this will require overall renewable energy generation of 234 Terawatt hours (TWh) across the electricity, heat and transport sectors, based on central projections of energy consumption for 2020.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the expenditure required in the UK in order to meet renewable energy obligations.

Charles Hendry: The UK has a legally binding 2020 target of delivering 15% of energy consumption coming from renewable energy. To meet this, it is estimated that around 30% of electricity, around 12% of heat and around 10% of transport demand will come from renewable sources.
	In order to deliver these levels of renewable energy, expenditure defined as tax and spend by the Office for National Statistics will be incurred through the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.
	The spending is estimated at £32 billion* from 2011 to 2020 under the Renewables Obligation(1); £3.6 billion* under small-scale feed-in tariffs(2); £9.8 billion* under the Renewable Heat Incentive(3); and £8.9 billion* under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation(4).
	Note that these figures represent the total spending. Analysis in 2009 was published showing lower figures based on the additional level of spending resulting from the increase in renewables ambition, on a different price basis. These figures are based on the latest published analysis for the RHI and FITs and do not take into account announcements in spending review 2010.
	Spending through these renewable financial incentives at the point of operation/energy use will leverage significant amounts of up-front private sector investment in new renewable generating capacity. 2009 analysis estimated that there would be around £100 billion of investment opportunities in renewable electricity and renewable heat to 2020.
	"*" = In 2010 prices discounted at the social discount rate of 3.5% to 2011.
	 Sources:
	(1) DECC calculations and modelling by Redpoint Energy, 2009
	(2) DECC modelling and analysis for the Final Impact Assessment of Feed-in Tariffs for Small-Scale, Low Carbon, Electricity Generation, February 2010
	(3) DECC calculation and modelling by NERA for the Renewable Heat Incentive consultation document, February 2010
	(4) Department for Transport analysis

UK Smart Grid

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to support the development of a UK smart grid.

Charles Hendry: We are developing policies to ensure that electricity system infrastructure can meet the key challenges for the future network and system balancing. These policy issues will form part of the Electricity Market Reform White Paper this spring. We are setting up with Ofgem a smart grid forum to guide the actions that we are taking to address future challenges for electricity networks.
	DECC is also managing the implementation phases of the smart metering programme, which will see the rollout of smart meters to GB households and many businesses, paving the way for smart grids.
	Ofgem has allocated £500 million in funding to encourage innovation in distribution networks over the next five years. In addition, by the end of this financial year, DECC will have awarded £2.8 million to projects through its smart grids capital grants programme under the low carbon investment fund.

Wind Power: Standards

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of wind turbines that did not reach their average rated speed in the last 12 months.

Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold information on the average load factors for individual wind turbines or wind farms. The average load factor for UK onshore wind turbines in 2009 was 26.9%. The equivalent figure for offshore wind was 33.7%. Figures for the UK in 2010 will be available following the publication of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics in July 2011.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's policy is on providing financial support to the hybrid motor vehicle industry.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	To meet UK carbon targets, the road transport sector needs to be decarbonised and a key element will be the move to ultra-low carbon vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid. The spending review announced provision of in excess of £400 million over the lifetime of this Parliament to support the decarbonisation of road transport. This support will include:
	A commitment to a national recharging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, informed by the eight Plugged-In Places (PIP) pilot projects which will deliver approximately 8,000 charging points, between 2010-13;
	The Plug-In Car Grant (PICG) which was successfully launched on 1 January 2011. The PICG promotes consumer uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles by providing 25% of the cost of the car up to a cap of £5,000 to both private and business purchasers of eligible cars (which include the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid);
	The Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) core budget for the upcoming spending review period has yet to be allocated and until such a time it will not be possible for the TSB to specify the level of funding that it is likely to allocate towards the development of Low Carbon Vehicle technology. The TSB has been working in close partnership with this Department, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to support Low Carbon Vehicle Research and Development (R and D) under a range of themes-including hybrid vehicle technology-prioritised by an industry-led steering group and informed by the New Automotive Innovation and Growth Team Technology Roadmap and Automotive Council findings. Funding is not, however, pre-allocated to specific themes, is subject to a competitive process and success will depend on the quality of the proposals submitted.
	The projected R and D spend over the period 1 April 2011-31 March 2015 by the EPSRC in support of the hybrid motor vehicle industry is shown in the following table (based on current grants only).
	
		
			  Financial year  EPSRC spend on hybrid motor vehicle research (£) 
			 2011-12 8,115,823.84 
			 2012-13 4,065,194.30 
			 2013-14 2,369,970.74 
			 2014-15 1,312,166.87 
			 Total 15,863,155.75 
		
	
	The DfT funded Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement programme has provided 200 all-electric and hybrid vans into public sector fleets. The value of this has been £6 million in the financial year 2010-11, and will be £1 million in 2011-12.
	DfT pays a bus subsidy incentive, at a rate of 6 pence per kilometre, to bus operators in England who use low carbon buses (including hybrid buses) on their local bus network.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Housing

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel at the MOD Hospital Unit, Portsmouth, are housed in private sector rental accommodation.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Portsmouth currently has 122 service personnel housed in private sector rental accommodation.

Armed Forces: Housing

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on  (a) substitute single service accommodation and  (b) food and incidental allowances in the MOD Hospital Unit, Portsmouth in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: The following table shows how much was spent on Substitute Single Service Accommodation (SSSA) and Food and Incidental Allowance in the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, Portsmouth for the last financial year:
	
		
			  Period financial year  Description  Total (£) 
			 2009-10 Excess rent and lodging allowance 525,258.57 
			 2009-10 Messing and food allowance 173,410.36 
		
	
	In April 2005, at the beginning of relocation of our military staff to the new Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH) at Cosham, the use of service accommodation within the Naval Base and wider Portsmouth area was considered, but none of sufficient quantity was available. As time was the key driver for locating staff nearer to the QAH, accommodation in Fort Blockhouse was not considered: the time taken and distance travelled to get staff to and from work from Fort Blockhouse was well outside Ministry of Defence policy on Tri-Service accommodation. To meet the needs and entitlements of our staff the decision to use SSSA was deemed to be the minimum necessary response under the prevailing circumstances and was in full accord with extant policies. The situation is monitored on a continuous basis.

Armed Forces: Postal Services

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will examine the reasons for the  (a) delay and  (b) restrictions affecting people sending parcels to 25 Flight Army Air Corps in Belize.

Peter Luff: British Forces Post Office (BFPO) mail to Belize is transported through the USA and was therefore temporarily affected by the security restrictions resulting from the toner cartridge bomb alert in early November 2010. The backlog was cleared and deliveries made to Belize in time for Christmas. As a result of this incident the USA has imposed additional restrictions of the carriage of mail weighing more than 500 grams.
	Delivery times for BFPO mail/parcels to all destinations are regularly monitored and the average time for delivery from anywhere in the UK to Belize through the BFPO system is currently between four and 11 days, largely dependent on whether the package weighs more than 500 grams.

Colchester Garrison

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) size and  (b) structure was of the Ministry of Defence Police force presence at Colchester Garrison on (i) 31 May 1997, (ii) 31 May 2001, (iii) 31 May 2005, (iv) 31 May 2010 and (v) the latest date for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: The size and structure of Ministry of Defence police (MDP) officers employed at Colchester Garrison on 31 May 1997, 31 May 2001, 31 May 2005, 31 May 2010 and the latest date for which figures are available 17 January 2011, are as follows:
	
		
			  Date  Inspector  Sergeant  Constable  Total 
			 31 May 1997 1 5 26 32 
			 31 May 2001 1 5.5 25.5 32 
			 31 May 2005 1 4.5 14.5 20 
			 31 May 2010 0 1 2 3 
			 17 January 2011 0 1 2 3 
		
	
	The current complement of MDP provides a community policing role at Colchester Garrison. Security is provided by the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS), the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) and members of the Army unit stationed at the Garrison.

Defence: Sales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who purchased the five BAe 125 aircraft sold by his Department in 2007; how that sale was organised; and if he will make a statement.

Gerald Howarth: The five BAe 125 aircraft were sold to a private company, Everett Engineers. This followed a competition run on the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) behalf by Witham (Specialist Vehicles) Limited, one of the contractors used to dispose of surplus defence equipment through specialist marketing agreements which have been competed in accordance with European Union procurement regulations. The agreements cover the collection, storage, marketing and sale of the equipment, and any receipts due are returned to the MOD. The five aircraft had been in service since 1965.

Departmental Pensions

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department of the proposed change to the indexing of public sector benefits and pensions in each year to 2020.

Gerald Howarth: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 587-89W.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will offer all surviving veterans exposed to radiation during the nuclear weapons tests held by the UK Government in the 1950s a medical examination to assess any effects on their health resulting from this exposure.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has recently placed a contract with an expert independent contractor for an audit of health needs among UK atmospheric nuclear test veterans. This will gather and record the direct experiences and views of nuclear test veterans in relation to the health and social care needs using a postal survey and focus groups.
	The Departments of Health and NHS have lead responsibility for the health assessment and provision of health care services for ex-service personnel. Radiobiological measures were in place for the UK atmospheric tests and independent studies by the National Radiological Protection Board and International Cancer Research since then have found no evidence of a general adverse effect on health compared to a matched control group.

Germany: Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations he is under regarding the refurbishment of military bases in Germany to be vacated by UK forces.

Nick Harvey: The Germany estate is managed as set out within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and its supplementary agreement.
	There are no obligations on the Secretary of State to refurbish military bases in Germany upon vacation.

Germany: Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obligations he is under regarding the environmental restoration of military bases in Germany to be vacated by UK forces.

Nick Harvey: The Germany estate is managed as set out within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and its supplementary agreement. These agreements do not oblige the Secretary of State to undertake environmental restoration of military bases in Germany.
	However, environmental damage caused by UK forces wilfully or by gross negligence can give rise to claims as set out within the agreements. Ministry of Defence policy is to undertake a land quality assessment for sites prior to closure.
	Assets disposed of in Germany over the past 15 years has resulted in no claims being raised regarding environmental issues.

Gulf War Syndrome

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what processes his Department has put in place to monitor developments and research into Gulf War Syndrome, related health problems and treatment by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and its Gulf War Veterans Illness Task Force.

Andrew Robathan: The UK maintains close relations with the US Government on this issue. The Ministry of Defence has a British liaison officer based in Washington DC ensuring that the UK has full visibility of US research into Gulf veterans' illness issues, and providing a channel for communicating our own work to interested US parties.

Iraq-Kuwait Conflict: Anniversaries

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events he plans to hold to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Gulf War.

Andrew Robathan: There are currently no plans for the UK to hold any official events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Gulf war.
	However, an invitation has been received from the Government of Kuwait to take part in activities this year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their liberation during the first Gulf war as well as the 50th anniversary of their independence from the UK. The first of such events is the Liberation Day parade to be held in Kuwait City in late February at which the UK will be represented by units from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force as well as senior veterans from the conflict.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft of each type were  (a) in service,  (b) in the forward fleet and  (c) fit for purpose on the latest date for which figures are available.

Peter Luff: The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures shown are the average for December 2010 and so have been rounded to the nearest aircraft.
	In service aircraft include all bar those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. The forward fleet comprises aircraft which are serviceable or short-term unserviceable. Fit for purpose aircraft include only serviceable aircraft available to the front-line commands for operational and training purposes. The number of aircraft available in each category varies according to normal fleet management activities including requirements for mandated maintenance and upgrade programmes.
	
		
			  Aircraft type  In service fleet  Forward fleet  Fit for purpose 
			 BAe 146 2 1 1 
			 BAe 125 6 5 4 
			 C-17 6 6 5 
			 Dominie 9 7 5 
			 Harrier(1) 74 41 41 
			 Hawk T1 129 87 57 
			 Hawk T2 17 8 5 
			 Hercules COOK 11 7 5 
			 Hercules CI30J 24 19 13 
			 King Air 4 2 2 
			 Nimrod R1 2 1 1 
			 Sentinel 5 4 3 
			 Sentry 6 4 3 
			 Tornado F3 15 12 12 
			 Tornado GR4 137 100 97 
			 TriStar 9 5 2 
			 Tucano 93 52 33 
			 Typhoon 70 44 44 
			 VC10 13 11 7 
			 Vigilant 65 65 59 
			 Viking 82 81 76 
			 (1 )Harrier was withdrawn from service on 15 December 2010.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department made of the suitability of the Nimrod MR4A for conversion to the role planned for the RC-135W.

Peter Luff: Two Nimrod MRA4-based proposals were considered as part of the Airseeker investment appraisal. The RC-135W Rivet Joint option was chosen because it demonstrated best value for money.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flight hours there are on each of the three KC-135 airframes due to be converted to the RC-135W.

Peter Luff: As at 14 September 2010, the latest date for which figures are available, aircraft one had accumulated 23,200 flying hours, aircraft two 22,200 hours and aircraft three 23,200 flying hours. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 hours.

Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) civilian and  (b) military staff were employed at each (i) RAF, (ii) Royal Navy, (iii) army and (iv) Royal Marines base in each year since 1997.

Andrew Robathan: This information is not held centrally or in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 December 2010,  Official Report, column 5W, to the right hon. and learned Member for North East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) which provides some of the information requested on RAF bases. I also refer the hon. Member to Defence Analytical Services and Advice [TSP10] which provides information on the geographical locations of regular forces stationed in the UK. This table can be found at the following website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&thiscontent=100&pubType=0&date= 2010-11-25&PublishTime=09:30:00
	Copies of the document have been placed in the Library of the House.
	I do, however, recognise the benefits of having this information. While the effort required to produce the RAF data to 2007 was considerable, I have nevertheless asked the Department to investigate to what extent a similar exercise in respect of the other services and civilian personnel would be possible. I will write to the hon. Member once this work is complete.

North Korea: Nuclear Weapons

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the nuclear weapons capability of  (a) North Korea and  (b) Iran.

Nick Harvey: North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. We currently assess it has produced sufficient plutonium for a small number of nuclear weapons. We have also noted the recent disclosures in November 2010 of a uranium enrichment capability, which could also be used to support a nuclear weapon programme.
	Iran is not currently assessed to have nuclear weapons. However it continues to pursue uranium enrichment and the construction of a heavy water research reactor, both of which have military potential, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. We share the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has not adequately explained evidence of possible military dimensions to its nuclear programme.
	We continue to implement all UN Security Council resolutions relating to North Korea and Iran.

Service Complaints Commissioner: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department allocated to the Service Complaints Commissioner in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10,

Andrew Robathan: The role of Service Complaints Commissioner came into being on 1 January 2008 and annual reports are published that contain details of expenditure. The following table provides information on the Ministry of Defence actual spend for calendar years 2008 and 2009. Expenditure relating to 2010 is currently being compiled.
	
		
			   Allocation (£) 
			 2008 316,000 
			 2009 412,300

TREASURY

Banks: Qualifications

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has undertaken an assessment in the last 13 years of the standard of professional education held by British-regulated bankers; and if he will consider making professional certification in financial analysis and risk-taking part of the regulatory process.

Mark Hoban: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent of Government. I have asked the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issue he raises.

Barnett Formula

Bill Esterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to review the Barnett formula.

Danny Alexander: The coalition Government recognises the concerns expressed on the system of devolved funding. However at this present time the priority must be to reduce the budget deficit and therefore any decisions to change the current system must await the stabilisation of the public finances.

Child Benefit

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of households in  (a) Wallasey constituency,  (b) Wirral borough council area,  (c) the North West and  (d) the UK which will be affected by the proposed withdrawal of child benefit from households which include a higher rate tax payer.

David Gauke: Information on household income for child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency or local council level.
	The number of households affected by the withdrawal of child benefit from families with a higher rate tax payer in 2013:
	 (c) in the north-west and Merseyside is estimated to be around 120,000;
	 (d) in the UK is estimated to be around 1.5 million.

Christmas Trees

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of his Department's Christmas tree for 2010.

Justine Greening: The tree was donated, at no cost, by one of the Treasury's building contractors. The decorations, which can be reused in future years, cost £36.

Crown Estate Commissioners

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of increased revenue payable  (a) to the Crown Estate Commissioners and  (b) from the Crown Estate Commissioners to the Treasury as a result of the development and generation of offshore wind energy in each year from 2011 to 2020; and if he will disaggregate such estimates into revenues from projects which are expected to gain their Electricity Act Section 36 consent from Scottish Ministers and those which are expected to obtain consent from the Government.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the income from the Crown Estate was in 2009-10; and what estimate has been made of income from the Estate in  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12,  (c) 2012-13 and  (d) 2013-14.

Justine Greening: The Crown Estate is obliged by law to pay its net annual surplus to the Exchequer. In 2009-10 the surplus paid over was £210 million of which rents from offshore wind activity contributed £2.6 million. The Crown Estate's medium-term objective is to generate a return of some £250 million by 2014.
	Since the Crown Estate operates commercially, it does not publish annual forecasts of its net surpluses.

Departmental Manpower

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people work in his Department's Devolved Countries unit.

Danny Alexander: The Devolved Countries Unit is made up of seven people:
	One Range F (Deputy Director)
	Two Range E (Grade 6/7)
	Two Range D (SEO/HEO)
	One Range C (EO)
	One Range B (AO).

Departmental Redundancy

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department have been made redundant since May 2010.

Justine Greening: Fewer than five members of staff in HM Treasury have been made redundant since May 2010. It is the Treasury's policy for reasons of confidentiality not to release full details relating to numbers of staff fewer than five where to do so might lead to the identification of individual cases.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed on fixed-term contracts in his Department; and what their job titles are.

Justine Greening: The following table gives the numbers of full-time equivalent civil servants employed on fixed-term contracts as at 30 November 2010, by Treasury pay range and civil service equivalent job title.
	
		
			  Range  Job Title  Full-time equivalent (FTE) 
			 G Director 2 
			 F Deputy Director 1 
			 E Grade 7 13.8 
			 D Senior/Higher Executive Officer 20 
			 C Executive Officer 3 
			 B Administrative Officer 8 
			 Student Student 25 
			 Infrastructure Specialist n/a 2

Disability

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has undertaken of the effects on people with disabilities of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review for his Department.

Justine Greening: At the spending review, the Treasury made a qualitative assessment of the likely impact of the spending review on different groups, including disabled people. These assessments were considered when decisions were made. The Treasury published the document, "Overview of Impact of the Spending Review 2010 on Equalities" alongside the spending review announcement.
	Equality impact assessments, where appropriate, will be considered and published by the relevant Departments as the full details of these policies are finalised. These will include assessments of the impact of policies on disabled people.
	The Treasury takes its statutory equality duties very seriously. I work closely with my colleagues, especially the Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, to ensure that HM Treasury complies with its statutory obligations.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review his proposal to increase the level of duty on fuel in April 2011.

Justine Greening: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines. The Chancellor has announced that Budget 2011 will take place on 23 March.

Financial Services: Standards

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will encourage the Financial Services Authority to endorse British Standard  (a) BS8453 and  (b) BS18477 on Compliance Frameworks for Financial Services Firms as its confirmed industry guidance.

Mark Hoban: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence.

Financial Services: Standards

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet the British Standards Institution to discuss the proposed standard  (a) BS8453 and  (b) BS18477 on Compliance Frameworks for Financial Services Forms.

Mark Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), has no plans to meet British Standards Institution to discuss the two proposed standards.

Income Tax

Amber Rudd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in  (a) England,  (b) East Sussex,  (c) Hastings and  (d) Hastings and Rye constituency he estimates will stop paying income tax as a result of the increase in personal income tax allowances in April 2011.

David Gauke: The number of persons taken out of tax as a result of the £1,000 increase in the personal allowance in 2011-12 in England is estimated to be 740,000.
	This estimate is based on 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected to 2011-12 in line with the June 2010 Budget assumptions.
	It not possible to produce reliable estimates for counties, towns and parliamentary constituencies due to small sample sizes at these levels of geography.
	Information on the distribution of taxpayer numbers by local authority and parliamentary constituency in 2007-08 is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315

Income Tax

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people in each parliamentary constituency who will pay less tax as a result of the personal income tax allowance being increased to £7,475 in April 2011.

David Gauke: In the June 2010 Budget it was estimated that 23 million basic rate taxpayers will gain an average of £170 in 2011-12 as a result of the increase in the personal allowance to £7,475.
	This estimate is based on 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected to 2011-12 in line with June 2010 Budget economic assumptions.
	Reliable estimates of numbers gaining by parliamentary constituency are not available, as projection of the survey data to 2011-12 does not allow for geographical variations in population changes or economic trends. Latest available survey information on the distribution of taxpayers by local authority and parliamentary constituency in 2007-08 is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 18 November 2010 in regard to Ms E. Wright.

Justine Greening: I have replied to the right hon. Member.

Public Expenditure

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total public expenditure in England in 2009-10 was as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Danny Alexander: Total public expenditure in the United Kingdom in 2009-10 as a proportion of GDP was 47.7%.
	The latest figure available for England is for 2008-09, which was published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2010. As a proportion of UK GDP total identifiable expenditure in England in 2008-09 was 28.6%.

Public Expenditure

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 21 December 2010,  Official Report, column 1311, what the monetary value of planned expenditure  (a) in transport infrastructure,  (b) in housing,  (c) in job creation,  (d) in schools,  (e) in health services and  (f) in total (i) was under the spending plans of the previous administration and (ii) is following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review in (A) City of York, (B) Yorkshire and the Humber and (C) England in (1) 2010-11, (2) 2011-12 and (3) 2012-13.

Danny Alexander: The previous Government did not publish spending plans beyond 2010-11. Regional breakdowns of public spending are shown in the Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) published annually as part of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) Command paper. The figures for planned spending by central Government and public corporations for 2010-11 in England and Yorkshire and Humber were published in PESA 2010. These figures are consistent with pre Budget report 2009 and are reproduced in table 1 as follows. We do not hold data for individual locations. PESA 2011 will contain regional breakdowns of spending for 2010-11, based on outturn data for central Government and public corporations, and plans data for local government. The CRA exercise has not been carried out on the spending review outcome.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2010-11 planned CG and PC spending 
			   £ million 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 31,691 
			 England 310,668 
			  Source:  Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2010 (HMT).

Public Sector: Borrowing

Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the Government deficit was as a proportion of gross domestic product on 1 April 2010;
	(2)  what the Government deficit was as a proportion of gross domestic product on 15 September 2008;
	(3)  what the level of Government borrowing was on 1 April 2010.

Justine Greening: Outturn figures for the Government deficit (Public Sector Net Borrowing) can be found in the public finances databank on the Treasury website.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Finance

Gary Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the market value of West Register Ltd.; and whether he expects the full market value of West Register to be taken into account in the disposal of the publicly-owned stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Mark Hoban: UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI) manages the Government's investments in Royal Bank of Scotland on an arm's length and commercial basis.
	UKFI's remit is to devise and execute a strategy for disposing of the Government's investments in an orderly and active way in line with its overarching objective to create and protect value for the taxpayer as shareholder. Circumstances under which UKFI are likely to be able to sell shares are likely to be those in which the economy-and investor confidence-is recovering and in which bank share prices are firm.

Sovereign Support Grant

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to establish the sovereign support grant linked to revenue from the Crown Estate.

Justine Greening: Primary legislation is planned for later this year.

Taxation: Business

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons his Department treats historic corporate tax matters as confidential.

David Gauke: HMRC is subject to a strict legislative duty of confidentiality by virtue of section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act (CRCA) 2005. HMRC may only disclose taxpayer information in strictly limited circumstances and where there is a legal basis to do so. This statutory duty of confidentiality is not time -limited and therefore "tax matters" which are confidential remain so regardless of the passage of time.

VAT

Grahame Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the increase in the rate of value added tax on  (a) businesses,  (b) employment and  (c) economic growth in the (i) North East and (ii) UK.

David Gauke: The answer to this question falls within the responsibilities of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
	 Letter from Robert Chote, dated 13 January 2011:
	As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility, l have been asked to reply to your recent question.
	The OBR's November forecast incorporated the estimated impact of policy measures announced at or before the June Budget, including the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent that took effect from 4 January 2011.
	We have not assessed the impact of the change in VAT on businesses or levels of employment. However, the OBR applied a range of fiscal multipliers to help inform its judgement on the impact of VAT on aggregate demand in the economy. These multipliers are set out in Table C8 of the interim OBR's June Budget document. A figure of 0.6, for example, means that a measure which has a direct effect of raising revenue by 1 per cent of GDP is estimated to reduce aggregate demand in the economy by 0.6 per cent in the short run.
	The interim OBR's June 2010 Budget forecast and the OBR's November forecast assumed that the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent would reduce the level of real GDP in 2011/12 by around 0.3 per cent.

VAT

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on net incomes of value added tax.

David Gauke: Value added tax is an indirect tax. Although prices on certain goods and services will increase as a result of the rate increase, incomes will be unaffected.
	Annex A of the Budget 2010 publication shows that in both cash terms and as a proportion of their income, higher spending households will pay more of the tax increase than lower spending households.

VAT: Charities

Aidan Burley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to offer to charities delivering public services the same value added tax status as local authorities and the NHS.

David Gauke: The Chancellor has no current plans to do this. The VAT which is refunded to local authorities and the NHS is taken into account as part of those bodies' overall funding arrangements. The schemes that are in place are the most efficient means of delivering this part of their funding.

VAT: Construction

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of removing the value added tax liability of self-build projects.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs already operates a refund scheme for do-it-yourself house builders and converters. Under this scheme, a person who builds a new house, or converts a previously non-residential building into a dwelling, for their own use, can recover the VAT they have incurred on the purchase of building materials.

VAT: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from businesses operating in Scotland on the effects of the VAT increase.

Danny Alexander: None of which I am aware. Decisive action taken by the Government in the spending review and June Budget, including the increase in VAT, will put the public finances and spending on a sustainable footing. This is already helping to keep long-term interest rates low and will encourage businesses to invest and grow.

Welfare Tax Credits

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken for processing notification changes of circumstances to recipients of tax credits resident  (a) in Makerfield constituency and  (b) nationally was in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The information requested is not available at constituency level.
	HM Revenue and Customs aim to process 98% of reported changes in 30 days. The provisional outturn for 2010-11 up to November 2010 was around 93%.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Advocate on Access to Education

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department has allocated for the costs of the Advocate on Access to Education; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education are having ongoing discussions with the Advocate on Access to Education how he will fulfil his role and the support he will need. At present no costs have been allocated for this unsalaried post.

Apprentices

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to provide information on Apprenticeship Week to potential apprenticeship providers and apprentices.

John Hayes: This is the fourth year Apprenticeship Week has been held, and it will take place between 7 and 11 February.
	The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) have been working extensively with partners since planning began in September 2010, and already over 100 events and activities have been agreed, with more being added every day.
	I have written to MPs in England inviting them to get involved. So far, 75 have responded saying they would like to attend events or visit apprentices in their place of work or training.
	The NAS is also working closely with the media to raise the profile of Apprenticeships Week to ensure some of the key activities are profiled in advance.

Apprentices: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship starts there were in Birmingham Hall Green constituency in each year since 2005.

John Hayes: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts in Birmingham Hall Green constituency from 2005/06 to 2008/09, the latest year for which final year data are available.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship programme starts, 2005/06 to 2008/09 
			   2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09 
			 Birmingham Hall Green constituency 260 270 280 370 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for Birmingham Hall Green parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon the home postcode of the learner.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR), this includes information by parliamentary constituency. The latest SFR was published on 16 November 2010:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Broadcasting: ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that the chief executive of Ofcom engages with all interested parties that have concerns over the planned introduction of unlicensed white space devices; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Ofcom, the independent regulator, has engaged extensively with stakeholders on this issue, and recently consulted in November 2010. Ofcom also published two consultations in February and November 2009, regarding cognitive devices using interleaved spectrum, and geolocation for cognitive access respectively. Interested parties have therefore already had a number of opportunities to raise concerns with Ofcom. I anticipate that Ofcom will continue to engage with stakeholders in the future.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to support research on myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. In keeping with the Haldane principle, prioritisation of an individual Research Council's spending within its allocation is not a decision for Ministers.
	The MRC supports research into all aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), and welcomes high-quality research applications in this area. The MRC does not normally commission research but supports high-quality investigator led proposals submitted in open competition, the selection of projects for funding is determined through peer review.
	An Expert Group on CFS/ME established by the MRC has worked with experts in the field of CFS/ME and research leaders in aligned areas to identify and prioritise research topics where the MRC might target efforts to encourage and support high-quality proposals. The MRC is now preparing to take forward these recommendations.
	Further information on research supported by the MRC and about the work of the group, including the recommendations for research topics and priorities can be found at:
	http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Ourresearch/ResearchInitiatives/CFSME/index.htm

Council for Education in the Commonwealth

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 November 2010 from the Council for Education in the Commonwealth.

John Hayes: I regret that we can find no record of a letter from the Council for Education in the Commonwealth to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, dated 10 November 2010.
	If the hon. Member for Tottenham, or the Council for Education in the Commonwealth would write again, or provide a copy of the original letter, I will respond as soon as possible.

Green Investment Bank

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms to secure  (a) the effective operation of the Green Investment Bank,  (b) its independence from the Government and  (c) its accountability to Parliament have been established.

Mark Prisk: Green Investment Bank (GIB) proposals are being evaluated for their effectiveness, fiscal affordability and transparency. BIS is working closely with other Government Departments on the development of these proposals, including the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, HM Treasury, Department for Transport, Department of Communities and Local Government, Cabinet Office and Infrastructure UK.
	We are committed to establishing a GIB that is effective in mobilising additional private sector investment into green infrastructure projects. It will, therefore, be run on a commercial basis, employing appropriate private sector skills and expertise and free from ministerial interference in its day-to-day operations.
	The GIB's governance arrangements and its legislative requirements, if any, will depend on the nature of its final design. The Government are currently conducting analysis and market testing and plans to publish its conclusions in May 2011.

Higher Education: Medicine

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of the planned increase in tuition fees on graduate level entry into medicine.

David Willetts: The Government have set out initial plans for the reform of higher education to ensure that we maintain England's world class university sector underpinned by progressive student funding with the emphasis on first undergraduate degrees.
	Unlike the vast majority of students doing a second undergraduate degree, students who choose to take a second undergraduate degree in medicine continue to have access to Government support.
	Those taking the normal length five or six-year medicine degree receive a maintenance loan from this Department for the first four years of the course. From the fifth year, the Department of Health (DH) pays the student's tuition charges in full and also provides a means-tested NHS Bursary; the BIS maintenance loan continues to be available at a reduced rate.
	Some students take a four-year accelerated graduate-entry medicine degree. Individual universities set their own entry requirements for this course, but most entrants are required to hold an honours degree in an appropriate science discipline. Students are eligible for a maintenance loan from BIS for the first year of the course. For the remaining three years the DH pays the student's tuition charges in full as well as providing a means-tested NHS Bursary; the reduced maintenance loan from BIS is also available.
	Lord Browne did not recommend any changes to the funding of postgraduate education but did recommend that participation in postgraduate study should be monitored to identify whether changes to the undergraduate funding and finance system have any effect on entry to postgraduate courses: we have committed to do so.

Higher Education: Radicalism

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many universities are currently deemed vulnerable to extremism; and what advice and guidelines he has offered those universities.

David Willetts: All higher education institutions (in England) received guidance from the (then) Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in 2008 on how to manage the risk and they all receive on-going advice and guidance from their designated police officer and other local partners.
	Currently 39 institutions have been identified as more at risk of extremist activity on their campuses and these institutions have received additional briefing and targeted support from central Government.

Higher Education: Scholarships

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students he estimates the National Scholarship Programme will assist in  (a) 2012-13,  (b) 2013-14 and  (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) will form part of a coherent package of help targeted on bright potential students from disadvantaged backgrounds. All universities that want to charge a higher graduate contribution than the £6,000 threshold will be obliged to participate in the NSP.
	The design of the National Scholarship Programme is by no means finalised. Criteria for the NSP are currently being developed through advice from an expert panel, which includes the National Union of Students, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK, Sutton Trust and others. The right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes), the Government's Advocate for Access to Higher Education, has been invited to join the group.
	Government investment in the programme will reach £150 million a year by 2014/15. Options could include a first free year for disadvantaged students who were on free school meals or a foundation year to attract young talented people into the professions. Such measures could potentially help around 18,000 students in 2014/15. The number of students who can benefit from the new programme will depend on the final design which is currently being developed with advice from the expert panel.

Higher Education: Scholarships

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what eligibility criteria for assistance from the National Scholarship Programme will be in place for 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The National Scholarship Programme (NSP) will form part of a coherent package of help targeted on bright potential students from disadvantaged backgrounds. All universities that want to charge a higher graduate contribution than the £6,000 threshold will be obliged to participate in the NSP.
	Details of the National Scholarship Programme are still being finalised. Criteria for the NSP are currently being developed through advice from an expert panel, which includes the National Union of Students, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK, Sutton Trust and others. Simon Hughes, the Government's Advocate for Access to Higher Education, has been invited to join the group.
	We want a wide range of people to have the opportunity to benefit from the programme. Likely groups to be supported include disabled students, part-time students, mature-aged students, those who have been eligible for the pupil premium at school, or have received free school meals or whose family income means that they will be eligible to receive student maintenance grants.

Innovation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether small and medium-sized enterprises will be required to pay to use the  (a) services and  (b) facilities of his Department's proposed technology and innovation centres.

David Willetts: The technology and innovation centres will operate on a commercial basis and all businesses, including SMEs, will be required to pay commercial charge rates levied by the centres to use most of their services.
	The provision of core funding will however ensure that SMEs have access to world-leading technology and expertise that would not otherwise be within reach. It will also enable collaboration, the exchange of tacit knowledge and reach into the knowledge base.
	Furthermore, the Technology Strategy Board will work to ensure there are no barriers in place restricting SME access to centres.

Innovation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons chemical process industries were not included on the initial list of candidate areas for technology and innovation centres in the prospectus published by the Technology Strategy Board.

David Willetts: Chemical process industries were not excluded from the prospectus. The prospectus highlights six broad thematic areas. It notes that under the theme of high value manufacturing, the Technology Strategy Board will maintain a broad, cross-sector approach, in line with its strategy, embracing all forms of manufacture using metals and composites, in addition to process manufacture including bio-processing.

Mowden Hall

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what criteria he plans to apply to determine the future of his Department's operations at Mowden Hall in Darlington;
	(2)  what plans he has for the future of his Department's operations at Mowden Hall in Darlington.

Edward Davey: The Permanent Secretary has commissioned a review of BIS presence on two sites, of which Mowden Hall, Darlington is one, and Runcorn the other. The review will consider business, personnel and financial aspects.
	All staff affected by the review are involved in the process along with the Trades Unions, who have been consulted throughout.

Postgraduate Education: Fees and Charges

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of likely fee levels for postgraduate taught courses in  (a) 2012-13,  (b) 2013-14 and  (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: We have no basis on which to make such an assessment. Fee rates for the vast majority of taught postgraduate courses are unregulated and set by each individual institution. Lord Browne noted that taught postgraduate education was a successful part of the higher education system and found no evidence that changes to funding or student finance were needed to support student demand or access. We will set out our priorities for taught postgraduate provision and our response to the postgraduate review in the forthcoming higher education White Paper.

Students: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the repayment terms for part-time students who take out tuition fee loans will be the same as those for full-time students.

David Willetts: holding answer 17 January 2011
	 Under our proposals from academic year 2012/13-and for the first time-all part-time undergraduate students in England will be eligible for loans for their tuition costs provided: they are personally eligible in terms of residency; they do not already hold a qualification which is at an equivalent or higher level to the qualification for which they now intend to study; they are studying on a course which is designated for support. These criteria match those for full time studies. The further criterion for part-time students is that they should be studying at an intensity rate which is at least one-quarter of an equivalent full-time course. Currently 60,000 part-time students receive tuition grants. Under our proposals we estimate 175,000 part-timers may be eligible for loans. No eligible part-time students will have to pay for their tuition costs up front and they will not have to begin repaying until they are earning at least £21,000, the same repayment threshold as we propose for full-time students.

Training

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the skills base of the labour force.

John Hayes: holding answer 17 November 2010
	The Government's Skills Strategy, 'Skills for Sustainable Growth', published on 16 November 2010, set out a vision for radical reform of the further education and skills system, based on the coalition principles of fairness, responsibility and freedom.
	The strategy will guide the Government's reform of adult learning and skills over the remainder of this Parliament and point the way towards growth in the longer term. Its aim is to improve the skills base of the work force by putting learners, and not the state, in the driving seat. We want to give them the funding, support and information they need to make the right choices for their future.
	Apprenticeships will sit at the heart of the system. We will expand the numbers of adult apprenticeships available by up to 75,000 by 2014-15 and reshape them so that technician level-Level 3-becomes the level to which learners and employers should aspire.
	Learners will be able to select training and qualifications designed and valued by business, and which are offered by a broad range of autonomous providers competing with one another.
	Greatest support from the state will be given to those who need it most. But we will expect learners and employers to share responsibility by contributing towards the costs of intermediate and higher level training.
	There will be a new role for employers in shaping the skills system. We need employers to get involved, to shape the system and utilise the skills of their work force, so that they get the most from their investment. We will support them in implementing proposals they make for raising their game on skills.
	We will increase competition between providers to drive up standards, and encourage greater diversity of provision. And we will free providers from bureaucratic control and centrally determined targets and radically simplify funding so they can respond to the needs of business and learners.

CABINET OFFICE

Unemployment

Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the number of workless households in  (a) Wallasey constituency,  (b) the Wirral borough council area,  (c) the North West and  (d) the UK.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2011:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent estimate has been made of the number of workless households in (a) Wallasey constituency (b) the Wirral Borough Council area (c) the North West and (d) the UK (33868).
	The estimates provided in the following table come from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. The latest data currently available are for 2009.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. These estimates are such that there is 95 per cent certainty from all possible samples that they will lie within the lower and upper bounds.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of workless households( 1)  in Wallasey, Wirral, the North West and the UK 
			   Thousand  Percentage 
			  January-December 2009  Estimate  Lower bound( 2)  Upper bound( 2)  Estimate  Lower bound( 2)  Upper bound( 2) 
			 Wallasey constituency 9 7 11 29.1 22.5 35.7 
			 Wirral 26 22 30 25.1 21.7 28.5 
			 North West 495 476 513 21.6 20.8 22.3 
			 UK 3,803 3,749 3,857 18.7 18.4 18.9 
			 (1 )Households containing at least one person aged 16-64, where all individuals aged 16 or over are not in employment. (2) 95% confidence interval which means that from all samples possible there would be 95% certainty that the true estimate would lie within the lower and upper bounds.  Source: APS household dataset

EDUCATION

Curriculum

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what the scope will be of his Department's review of the national curriculum; when it will commence; what the timetable for the review will be; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  who will lead his Department's review of the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 January 201 1
	Full details of our planned review of the national curriculum, including its scope and timetable and how it will be led and managed, will be announced shortly.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people are employed in the administration of the education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 December 2010
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Darlington with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 13 December 2010:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ30232 that asked:
	"How many people are employed in the administration of the education maintenance allowance."
	Administration of the education maintenance allowance is performed by the Learner Support Service, provided under contract to the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) by Capita. The number of people fluctuates during the year, peaking at about 500 but currently 200. They are deployed at two locations, Darlington and Birmingham. The YPLA has a small supervisory team in Sheffield.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the monetary value of education maintenance allowance granted to students in each constituency since the inception of the scheme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 January 2011
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Scunthorpe with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students  (a) in total and  (b) in year 12 resident in each parliamentary constituency were in receipt of education maintenance allowance in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 January 2011
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Scunthorpe with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of young people received education maintenance allowance in each constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for the Vale of Clwyd with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Darlington

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people resident in Darlington receive education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 December 2010
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Darlington with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 10 December 2010:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ30073 that asked:
	"How many young people resident in Darlington receive education maintenance allowance."
	EMA take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
	As at 30 November 2010, the take-up figure for young people in Darlington who have received EMA during the 2010/11 academic year was l,316.
	EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 is available on the YPLA website, at the following address:
	http://ema.ypla.gov.uk/resources/research/takeup/

Free School Meals

Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in (i) Reading East constituency and (ii) England were eligible for free school meals on the latest date for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and state-funded secondary( 1,2)  schools: school meal arrangements( 3,4) : in England and Reading East parliamentary constituency , January 2010 
			   Primary schools( 1)  State-funded secondary schools( 2) 
			   No. on roll  No. of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  % known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  No. on roll  No. of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  % known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 3,831,470 709,370 18.5 2,864,350 441,140 15.4 
			 Reading East 6,272 803 12.8 3,626 353 9.7 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (4) Includes pupils who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between 5 and 15.  Note: England figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Free School Meals

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals there were in each constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 December 2010
	The available information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals, from 2005 onwards, has been placed in the Library.
	To provide information prior to 2005 would incur disproportionate cost.

Free School Meals: Kingswood

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils attending schools in Kingswood constituency are eligible for free school meals.

Nick Gibb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy) on 22 November 2010,  Official report, column 92W.
	The answer provides information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals by parliamentary constituency.

Free School Meals: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people in  (a) Coventry and  (b) the West Midlands are in receipt of free school meals.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 January 2011
	Information on free school meal eligibility is shown in the table.
	The answer includes full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals.
	
		
			  Maintained nursery, primary( 1) , state-funded secondary( 1,2)  and special schools( 3) : school meal arrangements( 4,5) , January 2010 
			   Maintained nursery and primary( 1)  State-funded secondary( 1,2)  Special( 3) 
			   Number on roll( 4,5)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals( 4,5)  % known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  Number on roll( 4,5)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals( 4,5)  % known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals  Number on roll( 4,5)  Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals( 4,5)  % known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals 
			 England 3,838,680 711,410 18.5 2,864,350 441,140 15.4 78,330 27,330 34.9 
			 West Midlands 432,020 94,930 22.0 323,780 57,770 17.8 10,620 4,000 37.7 
			 Coventry 25,130 6,110 24.3 17,380 3,510 20.2 730 300 41.8 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (5) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15.  Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

GCSE: Science

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to review the curriculum for science GCSEs.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 15 December 2010
	The criteria and associated specifications for GCSE examinations need to reflect the associated national curriculum provisions in relevant subjects. The Government have made clear their intention to review the national curriculum in all subjects, including science. Further details will be announced shortly.

Higher Education: Education Maintenance Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of students eligible for the education maintenance allowance at each  (a) sixth form college,  (b) college and  (c) other higher education institution; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 14 December 2010
	 We do not make any estimate of the number or proportion of students who may be eligible, on the basis of household income, for the education maintenance allowance (EMA) at the level of individual schools or colleges. Nationally, we estimate that 679,000 young people may take-up EMA in the academic year 2010/11, and around 45% of 16 to 18-year-olds in full time further education in England currently receive EMA. Young people attending Higher Education are not eligible for EMA.
	The EMA scheme will close at the end of the 2010/11 academic year and no new applications will be processed from 1 January 2011. It will be replaced, from September 2011, with an enhanced discretionary learner support fund which will be managed by schools, colleges and training providers. This will enable them to target support at those young people that they assess as having real need of it to stay in education after 16. We are working with schools, colleges, training organisations and their representatives to develop the details underpinning the new scheme.

Languages: Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students in  (a) Newcastle,  (b) the North East and  (c) the UK have participated in the British Council's Language Teaching Assistance Scheme for each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 December 2010
	 Figures supplied by the British Council show the numbers of students from the following three areas who took part in the Language Assistants programme in each of the last three academic years as:
	
		
			  (a) Newcastle( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2008/09 54 
			 2009/10 66 
			 2010/11 76 
			 (1) Includes the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, University of Newcastle upon Tyne 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) North East( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2008/09 133 
			 2009/10 135 
			 2010/11 155 
			 (1 )Includes the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, University of Sunderland, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough and Durham University 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) UK 
			   Number 
			 2008/09 2,099 
			 2009/10 2,385 
			 2010/11 2,510

Pupils: Demonstrations

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children in  (a) Brighton and Hove and  (b) Hove constituency who were absent from school during the recent protest against tuition fees in that city.

Nick Gibb: Reasons for absence are collected within the school census, however only broad categories are used and therefore the Department will not know the number of pupils that were absent specifically due to the recent protest against tuition fees. Information on pupil absence is collected a term in arrears, therefore data for the autumn term 2010 will not be collected until the spring school census in 2011.

Vocational Education: Hexham

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what future provision he plans to make in respect of assistance with travel to vocational education in Hexham.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities have a statutory duty to make arrangements to ensure that young people in further education and training can attend their course.

Written Questions: Government Responses

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 590-1W, on children in care, what methodology his Department used to determine that to answer the question would incur disproportionate cost; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the calculations and accompanying background papers in respect of that answer.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 29 November 2010
	The original PQ (20371) requested information on four separate time-series. Based on our experience of answering similar individual questions, it was estimated that it would take around 6.5 days to extract the latest data and quality assure the answer.
	The threshold for determining if a PQ request exceeds disproportionate cost is based on the departmental standard of an individual member of staff incurring a cost of £800 to collate the response.

Written Questions: Government Responses

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010,  Official Report, column 590W, on children in care, what methodology his Department used to determine that certain parts of the question could only be answered at disproportionate cost; what calculations his Department used to make that determination; and what assumptions regarding the  (a) number of hours of work and  (b) cost per hour required to provide the information underlay those calculations.

Tim Loughton: The threshold for determining if a PQ request exceeds disproportionate cost is based on the departmental standard of an individual member of staff incurring a cost of £800 to collate the response.
	The original PQ (020371) requested information on four separate time-series. Based on our experience of answering similar individual questions, it was estimated that it would take around 6.5 days to extract the latest data and quality assure the answer.
	In order to provide some information within the cost threshold, links were provided to previously published information.